PM Trudeau: Canada and the United States have reached a reciprocal agreement to send back migrants who attempt to cross illegally

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada and the United States have reached a reciprocal agreement under which they will now be sending back migrants who attempt to cross illegally anywhere at the border.

Trudeau called it an exceptional measure that will protect Canadians amid the pandemic.

It addresses concerns about the difficulty of screening refugee claimants for the new virus.

Thousands of migrants have fled north to Canada since 2017.

Trudeau also confirmed that all non essential travel between Canada and the United States will end at midnight Friday.

The two countries announced the measure earlier this week.