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.

Democratic Congressman Suggests Execution for Pete Hegseth

DOJ Axes a Slew of Gun-Control Regulations in ‘Historic’ Day for the 2nd Amendment

MN lawmakers unload on Walz’s ‘legacy’ after he touts fraud record in final annual address: ‘Ridiculous’

DNC chair ripped for downplaying unreleased 2024 autopsy after Dem losses: ‘Self-inflicted crisis’

DOJ weighs new classified leak charges against Comey as legal pressure escalates

Report: Dem Senate Candidate Deleted Thousands of Radical Tweets, Bashed Middle America: ‘Wish I Never Left California’

GOP warns Trump over war powers deadline amid Iran standstill

House Dem Invokes ‘Nazi’ War Crimes in Attack on Hegseth Over Caribbean Strikes as Rhetoric Escalates

Louisiana to go ahead with primary election for all races besides six House seats

Trump ends DHS’ months-long nightmare that left immigration enforcement without funding

Chick-fil-A employee busted in bizarre $80K mac-and-cheese theft scheme

Mark Sanford quits House race after one month, says fighting national debt is better done outside politics

‘Giggling’ cop killing suspect slammed by judge as prosecutors fought bail release for repeat felony offender

DOJ Uncovers Numerous Ways the Biden Admin ‘Devastated the Lives of Many Christian Americans’

US Moves to Deploy Never-Before-Used ‘Dark Eagle’ Weapons System Against Iran

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.