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.

DOJ busts ‘Greggy’s Cult’ child exploitation network that allegedly coerced kids into self-harm

Late Breaking: Trump-Endorsed Van Epps Defeats Anti-Police Democrat in TN House Race

Texas Tech restricts teaching of race and gender, faculty could be disciplined for violating rule

DOJ sues six states for refusing to turn over voter registration rolls, warns ‘open defiance’ of federal law

DOJ weighing possible new indictments for Comey and James: Reports

Trump-backed Republican keeps crucial congressional seat in GOP hands with special election victory

NYC alleged dine-and-dash influencer Pei Chung evicted from luxury apartment as she sits in jail

Illegal immigrant gang member killed police K-9 ‘Spike’ before officers returned fire in California: source

Indiana redistricting bill clears committee, heads to full House for vote

Young progressive beats out establishment candidate in Jersey City mayoral race, echoing Mamdani

GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik Says She Caught Mike Johnson Telling ‘Lies’ and Secretly ‘Siding with Jamie Raskin’

Breaking: Trump Officially Invalidates All Documents Signed by Biden Autopen, Including Pardons – Fauci, Hunter Biden Now Vulnerable

Watch: The Fieriest Trump Comments in History Just Came Out During Cabinet Meeting – POTUS Utterly Scorched Omar and Somalis, Calling Them ‘Garbage’ from ‘Stinking Country’

Pope Leo urges Trump to de-escalate tensions with Venezuela and turn to dialogue

Trump doubles down on voiding Biden autopen actions, including pardons and commutations

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.