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.

Trump administration proposes six-figure price tag for new H-1B visas

Trump admin eyes historic mass visa revocation targeting up to 200K asylum seekers: report

Watch: Scott Bessent Announces Details of ‘Unprecedented Campaign’ Against ‘Iran and Its Enablers’

‘Moderate’ Dem gubernatorial candidate embraced DEI budget tool, Green New Deal-style policies

Trump scores Supreme Court win on mail-in voting restrictions before midterms

San Francisco 49ers Owner Arrested at Trailer Park in East Palestine, Ohio

Oklahoma-based Southwest Airlines flight attendant found dead in Hawaii, police investigating

UK gives missile blueprints to Ukraine as relations with Russia collapse

Manhunt for Massachusetts woman ends with grim discovery week after police officer husband found dead at home

Tree-Trimmer Arrested After On-the-Job ‘Prank’ Leaves Co-Worker Dead

Washington Post Ordered to Re-Hire Columnist Who Made ‘Beyond the Pale’ Comments on Day of Charlie Kirk’s Assassination

Trump takes children on tour of helipad and ballroom construction sites

Trump touts endorsement power ahead of vital primary competitions

Clarence Thomas scorches racial litmus tests policing thought: ‘Stay Black and die’

El-Sayed distances himself from Hasan Piker after disturbing remarks about Jewish Americans

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.