Trump Administration to expand Border Restrictions to Stop Asylum Seekers

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The administration of President Donald Trump has planned to strongly expand border restrictions. It would prevent asylum seekers and other immigrants from entering the United States amid the widespread coronavirus, or until administration officials determine that the restrictions are no longer essential. The extension links to a March order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that imposed a 30-day closure along the US-Mexico and Canada borders. But, the agency extended the measure in April 2020 for another month. The recent move keeps the restrictions in place through at least June. The measure will stop asylum seekers and other immigrants from entering the US under the guise of a public health issue during the coronavirus crisis.

It is noteworthy that the CDC officials will review the mandate after every 30 days once the measure goes into effect on 21^st May. The order will remain in effect until the CDC Director determines that the danger of further introduction of Covid-19 into the United States from covered aliens has ceased to be a serious danger to the public health. But, it will impose another strict and hard-line immigration policy with severe limitations on people entering the United States under the Trump administration. 40 former CDC officials and health experts wrote a letter on Tuesday to the director of CDC, Robert field, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar. They criticized Trump administration for specious public health rationale.

The Secretary of Homeland Security, Chad Wolf said that the order has been one of the most critical tools the department has used to avoid the further spread of the virus and to protect the American people. Point to be noted that at least 1.5 million American people have been infected since the beginning of the outburst. Only 2 people have been granted refugee status at the southern border and 3 others have pending asylum cases, since March. At least 50 others have been turned away from entering the US. Andrea Flores from the American Civil Liberties Union said, “The president is hell-bent on exploiting a public health crisis to achieve his long-held goal of ending asylum at the border. He’s also doubling down on fear-mongering against immigrants, so many of whom are essential workers during this crisis. Do not be fooled”.