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.

Grady Judd puts parents on notice over TikTok teen takeovers: ‘We’re gonna come lock you up too’

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani releases audit accusing federal immigration agents of misleading tactics

Republicans get ‘aggressive’ in fight to win top cop spots in battleground states

Georgetown Cupcake keg-throwing suspect turned in by his own father after recognizing surveillance footage

Trump ties himself to Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart during New York swing

Trump Admin Order Could Force Hundreds of Thousands of Foreigners to Leave the US

Trump Abruptly Cancels Plans to Attend Son’s Wedding, Heading Straight Back to DC

Judge dismisses human smuggling charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia

FBI launches ‘fittest agent’ competition for field offices

Warren torched over ‘my kind of man’ praise for Platner after death-wish post for wounded veteran resurfaces

Trump administration orders green card applicants to leave the US, apply from their home countries

Breaking: Tulsi Gabbard Resigning from Trump Administration

Wasserman Schultz makes bid for new district after Cherfilus-McCormick resignation

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Explains How He and Kyle Busch Overcame Their ‘Challenging Existence’ in Heartfelt Message

Dem candidate who called for imprisoning ‘Zionists’ blames her own party, media for backlash

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.