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.

Marjorie Taylor Greene follows Tucker Carlson in ditching the ‘America Last’ Republican Party

Iranian leaders project newfound confidence with international travel spree

Top Republican pitches Trump plan to stop shutdowns, expose ‘bad guys’ blocking voter ID law

Cruz says Mamdani, AOC, Platner show Democrats’ leftward shift: ‘That’s where the energy is’

Social media erupts over Mamdani’s silence after Brooklyn coffee shop bans Jewish congressman

MLB Issues Unexpected Response on Players With Bible Verses on Uniforms, Says They Will Never Be Fined

Air traffic control audio captures tense moment two planes nearly collided at Boston Logan Airport

Foreign Born Biden Judge Named ‘Sparkle’ Strikes Down Trump Database to Purge Illegal Voters Because It Purges Voters

Swalwell pal accused of using campaign cash to bankroll ‘luxury lifestyle’ — including Super Bowl tickets

‘Pride Night’ Backlash: LA Dodgers Pitcher Says MLB Came Down on Him for Charlie Kirk Tribute

Bombshell: Biden Admin Knowingly Let Over 1 Million Deadly Fentanyl Pills Onto US Streets, Says DEA Whistleblower – ‘We Poisoned Our Community’

Savannah Guthrie pleads for tips as ransom note claims mom is dead: ‘Somebody knows something’

Zohran Mamdani tries to remake the Big Apple’s congressional delegation

Music Library Curator’s Career Hits High Note with Discovery of ‘New’ Mozart Manuscript

Trump endorses John James in Michigan governor race as GOP rival exits primary

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.

See also Alan Greenspan dies at age 100

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.