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.

Watch: 4 of the Most Intense Exchanges When RFK Jr. Put CNN’s Dana Bash in Her Place on COVID and Fauci

Trump Says ‘Last Chance’ Talks with Iran Are ‘Going on Right Now’

Trump administration’s immigration push fuels ICE’s biggest arrest month in agency history

Citadel cadet, childhood friend gunned down in vacant Florida lot as police launch manhunt

State Department denies call with under-pressure FIFA president Infantino

Trump says Jeanine Pirro ‘choked’ in Reflecting Pool vandalism case: ‘Folded like an umbrella’

Dem senator accuses Pentagon of murder with boat strikes targeting drug traffickers

GOP lawmaker’s gifts, ‘effusive affection’ toward young staffers detailed in explosive ethics report

Muslim Assailants Kill Church Elder, At Least 20 Other Christians, In Targeted Attacks

Breaking: Todd Blanche Nomination Poised to Succeed as Two GOP Holdouts Flip

Board of Peace demands Netanyahu cease Gaza airstrikes as Israel refuses to comply with peace plan

Denmark’s military conscription ‘expanded and strengthened’ as tensions mount with DC and Moscow

Growing Number of Conservatives Turn on DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin Over Soft ‘Immigration Reform’ Rhetoric

FIRST ON FOX: Trump to open direct line with military families in ground-up readiness push

Outrage over noncitizens allegedly voting in elections ignites probe into Garden State Dems

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.