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 EPA chief vows he won’t take ‘morality lessons’ from Dem senator after heated clash

Newsom mocks Trump’s limited-edition passport with fake California driver’s license featuring gov’s portrait

UnitedHealthcare Fires Employee Who Said She Was Sad Trump Assassin Failed: ‘Violence is Never Acceptable’

United Airlines Flight Reportedly Struck by a Drone at 3,000 Feet

Prosecutors drop reference to injured Secret Service agent in latest filing amid confusion over Trump assassination case

FBI reveals Brown University mass shooter began plotting massacre as early as 2022, blamed victims

Kohberger defense team says it is ‘appalled’ by former expert’s public comments about Idaho murders case

Rashida Tlaib slams anti-israel Arab group over handling of sexual harassment claims

‘Shark Tank’ star backs Trump’s White House ballroom plan amid security concerns: ‘It’s bipartisan’

Grand Jury Indicts 2 Suspects for Assault on Turning Point USA Journalist

DOJ Releases Mirror Selfie of WHCA Dinner Shooter Donning Red Tie, Weapons Arsenal Just Before Attack

Dems’ ‘No Kings’ rhetoric backfires as critics lambaste ‘confusing’ reaction to actual king

Repeat offender with dozens of prior charges arrested for burglarizing church in Soros-backed DA’s county

Animal Farm filmmakers push back on ‘anti-capitalist’ movie criticism

BREAKING: Supreme Court Rules 6-3 That Drawing Congressional Districts Based on Race is Unconstitutional

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.