Donald Trump Closes Southern Border to Migrants, Asylum Seekers

President Donald Trump has ordered border agencies to quickly return all migrants from Mexican territory, regardless of routine asylum laws, according to the New York Times.

The New York Times, citing information from four administration officials, said:

The Trump administration plans to immediately turn back all asylum seekers and other foreigners attempting to enter the United States from Mexico illegally, saying the nation cannot risk allowing the coronavirus to spread through detention facilities and border patrol agents.

But under the new rule, set to be announced in the next 48 hours, border patrol agents would immediately return anyone to Mexico — without any detainment and without any due process — who attempts to cross the southwestern border between the legal ports of entry. They would not be held for any length of time in an American facility.

The decision reduces the danger that the coronavirus will be brought into ICE detention centers by additional migrants.

Study Links Gender Ideology And Support For Political Violence

Turns Out AI Wrote Billionaire’s Widely-Cited Anti-Scott Bessent Op-Ed

Silicon Valley exec ignites firestorm after accusing JD Vance of bringing DEI back

West Virginia looks to AI data center boom to help eliminate state income tax

Flock AI Tool Finds You Without a Name or Plate, ‘Can Be Targeted Against Anyone’

Iranians hoard currencies and physical assets as blockade cuts off alternatives to worthless rial

Shark sightings surge along southern Maine coast as experts explain what’s driving the spike

Iceland votes on resuming EU membership talks as Trump’s push for neighboring Greenland looms over debate

North Carolina warns mobile petting zoo visitors of rabies exposure after baby goats test positive

Retired Port Authority officers tell Mamdani, Hochul to stay away from Ground Zero on 9/11

Former California councilman’s corruption unmasked after FBI finds cash buried in backyard

El-Sayed’s Demeaning Usha Vance Comments Set Stage for Major Backfire with Key Demo

Mississippi mayor argues against lowering flag for Dolly Parton after her death

Obama Judge Once Again Orders Postal Service To Defy Trump’s Mail-In Ballot Executive Order

Dems face uphill battle in challenge to Georgia Congressional map under new SCOTUS rules

The short report does not explain the legal rationale for the decision, which puts a final closure on the much-diminished 2019 inflow from Central America. But Section 212(f) of the 1965 immigration act says:

Whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate.

Business groups strongly dislike this 212(f) rule, which can raise Americans’ wages by choking off the flow of blue-collar migrants into Americans’ workplaces during a growing economy.

The southern border will stay open for Americans, foreigners with proper documents, and for trade, the New York Times continued:

The administration officials said the ports of entry would remain open to American citizens, green-card holders and foreigners with proper documentation. Some foreigners would be blocked, including Europeans currently subject to earlier travel restrictions imposed by the administration. The points of entry will also be open to commercial traffic.

The New York Times‘ report was also silent about the northern border, which is open to many of the travelers from China who have been welcomed by the Canadian government during the last several weeks.