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.

Rubio targets Nicaraguan official over alleged torture tied to ‘brutal’ Ortega regime

‘Lego bandit’ accused in bizarre $34K scheme replacing minifigures with pasta

Pro-Life Activist Targeted By Biden Walks Away with Massive Lawsuit Payout

Airline worker stole plane, performed barrel roll before deadly crash: Inside final moments

Trump DOJ Keeps Biden-Era Gun Rule

Walz rips Trump and Vance in Europe, says ‘feeble-minded, trigger-happy president’ has no exit plan for Iran

This African Country Could Start Islamic ‘Sharia Courts’

Ilhan Omar’s office says she’s ‘not a millionaire’ after $30M filing revised down to under $100K: report

US Navy releases photos of ‘fresh meals,’ pushes back on reports of food shortages on Middle East warships

Perfect Justice: South Koreans Teach US Punk a Hard Lesson – 6 Months Hard Labor for Disgusting Public Behavior

Someone Should Sue to Break Up Big Tech’s DC Lobby Monopoly

Newsom administration allegedly knew of $2B California budget error for months: report

Mississippi Governor Trolls Brits Into Oblivion Over Report UK Would Rank as Poorest State

Here Are the States Getting the Biggest Tax Refunds

Mayor Mamdani Says Exodus From New York Is Just Your Imagination

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.