A man walks towards El Paso, Texas, U.S. from Mexico, on the international border bridge Paso del Norte, as seen from Ciudad Juarez
Reuters



During a press conference on March 16, President Donald Trump mentioned that he is discussing options with Canada and Mexico to temporarily close the borders. The administration believes that such a measure is necessary in order for the United States healthcare system to focus on its citizens.

The Law Behind It

The officials are looking into implementing 42 USC 265 which allows the Surgeon General to prohibit, in whole or in part, the entry of any property or person from certain countries to minimize danger to the United States. Though it is the first time that the statute will be put in practice, the government has taken a large risk by implementing it to both the northern and southern border.

The said policy will empower the Border Patrol Officers to capture migrants in entry ports without processing. Migrants may be returned to Mexico to reduce the number of immigrants in the Border Patrol's detention center.

Officials reiterated that closing the borders will not interrupt legal commercial trades between Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Furthermore, individuals with a work permit will still be allowed to enter the border at any time.

The Health Condition at the Border

It is a fact that the current health condition on the southern border is poor. Children died in 2019 due to flu-like symptoms without proper healthcare provided.

As of today, Border Patrol Officers who encounter immigrants with flu-like symptoms are either referred to the local health office or CDC. The CDC also requires all persons within the US border who meets the CDC Covid-19 travel history to undergo additional screenings.

Remain in Mexico Policy

Since this is the first instance that the government is using the 42 USC 265 policy, the implementation of the policy has raised a couple of questions from the public and its officials. The most intriguing question is how it will affect the "Remain in Mexico" policy they currently implement.

As of March 11, the Supreme Court has agreed that the administration continues with the "Remain in Mexico" policy which allows the immigrants to stay in Mexico while waiting for their hearing. Trump Administration waits for the court to decide whether a court appeal is needed or not.

Coronavirus and Its Effect

The pandemic caused by coronavirus is the primary reason why President Trump is making brave moves today. The administration believes that by closing the borders, they will be able to limit the spread of the virus and keep the healthcare system focus on their citizens.

Aside from closing its borders, the US government has also reinforced social distancing and has offered taxpayers relief as the world face such a challenge. Additional measures are implemented per state to help combat Covid-19.

As of today, there are 8,700 Covid-19 cases in the United States with a total count of 97 deaths recorded. The World Health Organization suggests all individuals who had travel history in affected countries and those who were exposed to them to have themselves tested for coronavirus. Also, anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms may reach out to their local health centers or better yet, do a 14-day self-quarantine.