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.

CodePink leader adds muscle to well-funded fight to ban restaurant delicacy

How to follow 2026 Election Day coverage on Fox News platforms

Virginia’s Dem AG Calls AR-15 Rifles ‘Machine Guns’ in Stunningly Ignorant Brief to SCOTUS

Report: ‘Presbyterian Seminarian’ Talarico Had Account On Adult Hookup Website, Was Looking for ‘Group Sex,’ ‘Fetish’ Partners

Gavin Newsom touts ‘ruthless’ approach to politics in New Hampshire pitch

Trump admin threatens Iran with ‘consequences’ as allies convene amid threats of post-election escalation

Why Keisha Lance Bottoms is trailing Jon Ossoff in Georgia

Watch: Muslim Debater Begs Security to Remove Christian Apologist After He Tells the Truth About Islam

Will Republicans distance themselves from Trump after the midterm elections?

Watch: Parents Say Soccer Officials Called Cops on Their Toddler Because He Was Too Good

Trump push to oust Omar faces historic Supreme Court test, but legal experts see ‘uncharted’ twist

An art museum to visit in sneakers

Democrats are likely to come up short in Florida. They’re still giving Republicans a scare

Federal judge blocks Trump DOJ threats against election workers ahead of 2026 midterms

California woman accused of killing trans son-in-law puts blame on husband in new docs: reports

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.