Regulatory framework
From what I can see, there is a DHS enforced action, using recommendations from the CDC, based on a "proclamation" by the president.
Air travel requires proof of vaccination. Land travel only requires verbal attestation, but they reserved the right to request it and deny entry if you don't have proof.
The TSA guidelines
A. Attestation means the CDC attestation form available at https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/order-safe-travel.html
B. CDC Order means the Order titled: Implementing Presidential Proclamation on Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic, including any amendments to that Order, available at https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/order-safe-travel.html
C. Proclamation means the Presidential Proclamation, A Proclamation on Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic, dated October 25, 2021, available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/10/25/a
CDC
On October 25, 2021, the President issued a Proclamation to suspend and limit entry into the United States for non-U.S. citizens who are nonimmigrants, referred to as “Covered individuals,” seeking to enter the United States by air travel and are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19. On the same day, CDC issued the Order: Implementing Presidential Proclamation on Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic to implement the President’s direction.
On April 4, 2022, CDC issued an Amended Order to align post arrival public health requirements for excepted noncitizen nonimmigrants with current CDC recommendations. The Amended Order also clarifies that parents or guardians do not need to complete an attestation on behalf of children under 2 years of age; and formalizes other guidance described in Technical Instructions, announced in frequently asked questions, and in the attestation. This amendment is effective as of April 14, 2022 at 12:01am EDT.
The exemption below seems to be unilaterally declared by the CDC??
Persons with valid visas [excluding B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourism) visas] who are citizens of a foreign country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability (See list for updates effective June 28, 2022)
Unvaccinated allowed: Burkina Faso Malawi South Sudan Burundi Mali Sudan Cameroon Niger Syrian Arab Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Nigeria United Republic of Tanzania Eritrea Papua New Guinea Yemen Haiti Senegal Madagascar Somalia
So the CDC picks the countries where this requirement is in place? If it were about stopping the spread, and the vaccine was necessary to stop the spread, wouldn't you want to do the exact opposite of this?
Accepted vaccines:
Janssen/J&J Convidecia (CanSinoBIO) Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech) Spikevax (Moderna) Novavax Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) Covaxin Covishield BIBP/Sinopharm CoronaVac (Sinovac) Nuvaxovid (Novavax) Covovax Medicago
Let me remind you of Zifivax, and ZyCoV-D. And of course, Sputnik V, EpiVacCorona, CoviVac, Sputnik Light. Tens of millions of Indians and Chinese cannot enter unless they get an approved vaxx. Russians are basically banned from the US and have been for almost a year now. Unless the fly to Europe and get AstraZeneca or something?
Do the requirements of this Amended Order apply to land border crossings or to persons arriving at seaports?
No, the requirements of the Presidential Proclamation and CDC’s Amended Order apply to air travel into the United States
For information about COVID-19 requirements for land travel and ferry terminals, visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Fact Sheet: Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S. at Land Ports of Entry and Ferry Terminals.
DHS land crossings.
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2021/10/29/dhs-releases-details-fully-vaccinated-non-citizen-travelers-enter-us-land-and-ferry
Starting November 8, when arriving at a U.S. land POE or ferry terminal, non-citizen travelers should be prepared to (1) provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, as outlined on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website; and (2) verbally attest to their reason for travel and COVID-19 vaccination status during a border inspection.
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2022/01/20/dhs-require-non-us-individual-travelers-entering-united-states-land-ports-entry-and
In October 2021, the White House announced that, starting November 8, 2021, the U.S. government would move away from the country-by-country restrictions previously applied during the COVID-19 pandemic and adopt travel policies that rely primarily on vaccination to advance the safe resumption of travel. Since January 22, 2022, DHS has imposed a vaccination requirement on non-U.S. individuals seeking to cross into the United States at land ports of entry or ferry terminals.
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2022/04/21/dhs-extends-covid-19-vaccination-requirements-non-us-travelers-entering-united
Non-U.S. travelers entering the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals, whether for essential or non-essential reasons, must continue to:
verbally attest to their COVID-19 vaccination status;
provide, upon request, proof of a CDC-approved COVID-19 vaccination, as outlined on the CDC website;