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.

Ex-Iowa school superintendent sentenced to prison as an illegal alien found with firearms

Elderly couple fatally stabbed inside Queens apartment, no arrests made as investigation continues: report

ICE arrests illegal alien who allegedly faked asylum claim based on homosexuality, became Indiana jail officer

Hasan Piker says UK has barred him, trashes ‘unbelievable…power’ of pro-Israel groups

Pratt rallies supporters as Los Angeles mayoral race enters final stretch

Left-wing streamer blasts New Jersey governor over state police response at ICE facility protests

Man who warned coworkers ‘no one’s going home today’ gets prison term in fatal shooting

Scott Peterson’s longtime lawyer claims ‘new’ evidence could force courts to revisit his murder conviction

Hospitals Promised Less Expensive Care After Merging Into Behemoths – the Opposite Happened

Bad News Across the Country for Dems Desperately Trying to Redistrict Before the Midterms

NYPD commissioner ‘proudly’ leads Israel parade as grand marshal; Mamdani breaks tradition, avoids event

NASA Reveals Moon Base Plan With Construction Process Beginning as Early as 2029

Trump warns judge against sacrificing national security by blocking White House ballroom, drone base

The Civil War Never Really Ended, But an American Union Could Finally Help America Truly Heal

Why NATO’s defense spending imbalance lasted for decades

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.