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: The Priceless 30 Seconds Where Rep. Comer Forces Dems to Listen to Hakeem Jeffries Beg Epstein for Cash

Unearthed FEC records expose Katie Porter’s hypocrisy after she fumes at ‘new billionaire’ joining race

Coast Guard defends dropping hate label for swastikas, nooses, Confederate flags

Miss Palestine’s Connection to Notorious Hamas Leader Exposed Ahead of Beauty Pageant: Report

Quite the Pickle: California Town Seeks to Permanently Ban Popular Pastime

New Twist in Holiday Condiments: ‘Leftover Gravy’ Hits Shelves in Time for Thanksgiving

Muslim civil rights group CAIR sues Texas over Abbott’s ‘terrorist’ designation

Immigrants fined up to $1.8 million for remaining in US sue Trump administration

Eric Swalwell announces run for California governor, vows to be ‘protector and fighter’

Missouri attorney general takes new legal aim at mail-order abortion pills over safety concerns

US-backed foreign broadcaster selling pricy news gear for pennies on the dollar to ‘spite’ taxpayers

Biden DOJ subpoenaed Jim Jordan’s phone records covering more than two years

Republicans Working to End Biden-era Regulation That Funded Travel for Illegal Alien Minors Who Were Getting Abortions

Florida executes Richard Barry Randolph, convicted of raping, killing former convenience store manager

Nydia Velazquez, first Puerto Rican woman elected to Congress, announces 2026 retirement

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.