The Trump administration recently announced plans to extend the COVID-19 restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border indefinitely. According to several people familiar with the matter, the decision came after the president's advisers pushed to leave the policies in place for months.

On March 21, a U.S. federal health agency revealed a month-long restriction where all non-essential travel into the United States from neighbouring countries such as Mexico and Canada are suspended. The new guidelines led to the closing of all legal points of entry for tourists. Immigrants who entered the United States through illegal ports were sent back to their home countries. 

Under the new border rules, over 20,000 immigrants at the southern border were turned away, with officials citing threat to the public health as the reason. Border officials reducing the number of detainees in holding cells and immigration jail contributes to preventing an outbreak in the facilities. 

According to a USCIS report, border patrol agents conducted over 59 interviews between March 21 and May 13, Fifty-four applicants were rejected while three are still waiting for their results. The data did not release the demographic information or the nationality of the individuals who were screened. Only two migrants were given permission to remain in the country to seek asylum since the enactment of the new restrictions. The Trump administration said other applicants will be considered on a case-to-case basis. 

On April 20, Stephen Miller, the architect of the president's immigration agenda, decided to extend the border restrictions for another month. 

On Wednesday, newly surfaced reports claim the extended restrictions-which is set to end on May 21-may see another extension. The reports said several government agencies are reviewing a new order that will allow them to impose the COVID-19 border policies indefinitely. Should the administration issue the extension, the restrictions would stay in effect until U.S. health officials decide the virus no longer poses a threat. 

The Department of Homeland Security officials claim extending the restrictions is essential in preventing the virus from spreading and affecting detention centers along the border. It is, however, unclear whether the administration will formally issue the new order. 

A copy of the draft obtained by the New York Times said the duration of the COVID-19 order will continue until medical experts determine the danger of spreading the disease into the United States will no longer be a danger to the health of the public. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said they will conduct monthly reviews of the threats posed by the coronavirus to American residents. They did not disclose further details about the criteria used to extend the border rule.

The Trump administration has previously imposed restrictive immigration policies, including suspending flights of refugees, naturalization ceremonies, and the issuance of green cards to individuals residing outside the country. Despite the limitations, the president has permitted seasonal workers to apply and receive temporary visas. He also acknowledged the immigrants employed as farmworks and meatpackers to be essential during the coronavirus crisis. 

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