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Wednesday, 18 March 2020

US to Turn Back Asylum Seekers, Illegal Aliens at Border, UN Stops Refugee Resettlement Due to Coronavirus: Reports

Asylum seekers and illegal border crossers will be turned away from the United States and returned to Mexico or (Canada as the case may be) under a proposed policy change because of the Wuhan coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, several news sites are reporting. In addition, the UN announced it was suspending refugee resettlement flights.
UNHCR: …”In addition, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and IOM, the International Organization for Migration, are concerned that international travel could increase the exposure of refugees to the virus. As a result, IOM and UNHCR are taking steps to suspend resettlement departures for refugees. This is a temporary measure that will be in place only for as long as it remains essential.”…
2019 migrant caravan, file image.
It was also reported the U.S. and Canada would be announcing an end to non-essential border crossings between the tow nations. The new policies would not effect trade between the U.S., Canada and Mexico for the time being.
The Trump administration plans to immediately turn back all asylum seekers and other foreigners trying to cross the southwestern border illegally, saying they cannot risk allowing the coronavirus to spread through detention facilities and among Border Patrol agents, four administration officials said on Tuesday.
The officials said the ports of entry would remain open to American citizens, green card holders and some foreigners with proper documentation. Some foreigners would be blocked, including Europeans currently subject to earlier travel restrictions enacted by the administration. The entryways will also be open to commercial traffic.
But under the new rule, set to be announced in the next 48 hours, Border Patrol agents would immediately return to Mexico anyone who tries to cross the southern border between the legal ports of entry. Under the policy, asylum seekers would not be held for any length of time in an American facility nor would they be given due process. Once caught, they would be driven to the nearest port of entry and returned to Mexico without further detention.
Although they advised that details of the policy could change before the announcement, administration officials said the effort was critical to avert an outbreak of the coronavirus inside detention facilities along the border.
…In the next 24 hours, one official said, the United States and Canada plan to issue a joint statement saying that they are suspending nonessential travel between the two countries. That would allow trade to continue, but would restrict flights and border crossings for things like vacations.
The Wall Street Journal reported the new policy would apply at the Canadian border as well, “Due to coronavirus, the Trump administration is considering a plan to shutter the U.S. border with Mexico and Canada to asylum seekers, among others.”
Meanwhile the Congressional Hispanic Caucus is lobbying for asylum seekers to be let in the U.S. immediately.
“#RemainInMexico is more dangerous than ever – the Trump Admin has created the perfect storm of conditions for coronavirus to be as deadly as possible in migrant tent camps. We must end this policy and allow these asylum seekers to reach safety in the US.”
A new migrant caravan was reported to have left for the U.S. border from Central America several days ago.
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