BajaNomad

Update: Trump proposes new rule that could temporarily block Americans who might be infected w/COVID from returning to the U...

Whale-ista - 8-10-2020 at 02:53 PM

Update from Aug. 11 print edition with additional details:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/10/us/politics/trump-coronav...

"The government does already have the authority to conduct extra health screenings of American citizens and potentially impose quarantines if an American citizen returns from a hot zone. And immigration officials do have broad authority to deny entry to people based on national security issues.

"The new rule appears to apply to all points of entry into the United States, including at airports and along both the northern and the southern borders. In particular, the draft could affect the border with Mexico, where many American citizens and legal residents cross back and forth frequently.

"The rule notes the prevalence of the coronavirus in Mexico as evidence of the need for the modified rule, citing the recent death of the health minister in the border state of Chihuahua, who the order says died of Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, after a two-week hospitalization."


Source and previous article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/10/world/coronavirus-covid-1...

Trump Could Temporarily Block Americans Who Might Be Infected From Returning to the U.S.

President Trump is considering new immigration regulations that would allow border officials to temporarily block American citizens and legal permanent residents from returning to the United States from abroad if authorities believe they may be infected with the coronavirus.

In recent months, Mr. Trump has imposed sweeping rules that ban entry by foreigners into the United States, citing the risk of allowing the virus to spread from hot spots abroad. But those rules have exempted two categories of people attempting to return: American citizens and non-citizens who have already established legal residence.

Now, a draft regulation would expand the government’s power to prevent entry by citizens and legal residents in individual, limited circumstances. Federal agencies have been asked to submit feedback on the proposal to the White House by Tuesday, though it is unclear when it might be approved or announced.

Under the proposal, which relies on existing legal authorities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the government could block a citizen or legal resident from crossing the border into the United States if an official “reasonably believes that the individual either may have been exposed to or is infected with the communicable disease.”

The draft, parts of which were obtained by The Times, explicitly says that any order blocking citizens and legal permanent residents must “include appropriate protections to ensure that no Constitutional rights are infringed.” And it says that citizens and legal residents cannot be blocked as an entire class of people.

The documents appear not to spell out how long a citizen or legal resident would be required to remain outside of the United States.

The draft memo says the prohibition on the introduction of U.S. citizens or legal residents from abroad would apply “only in the rarest of circumstances,” and “when required in the interest of public health, and be limited in duration.”

Still if Mr. Trump approves the change, it would be an escalation of his government’s longstanding attempts to seal the border against what he considers to be threats, using the existence of the coronavirus pandemic as a justification for taking actions that would have been seen as draconian in other contexts.

A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security declined to comment. A spokesman for the C.D.C. said late Monday afternoon that he would seek to gather more information about the proposal.

It is unclear whether there are any existing rules that would allow American citizens and legal residents to be prohibited from returning to the United States for a period of time because of concerns about a communicable disease. Immigration officials have broad authority to deny entry to people based on national security issues.

The rule appears to apply to all points of entry into the United States, including at airports and along both the northern and southern borders. In particular, the draft could impact the border with Mexico, where many American citizens and legal residents cross back and forth frequently.

The rule notes the prevalence of the coronavirus in Mexico as evidence of the need for the modified rule, citing the death on August 2 of the health minister in the Mexican border state of Chihuahua, who the order says died of Covid-19 after a two week hospitalization.

The draft regulation notes the stress that Covid-19 has placed on the Mexican health care system and says it has driven people from Mexico into the United States to seek care.


[Edited on 8-11-2020 by Whale-ista]

BajaBlanca - 8-10-2020 at 03:49 PM

Say it ain't so.

Bob and Susan - 8-10-2020 at 04:36 PM

that cannot be true...when the virus started he sent 400 jets around the world to recover stranded americans in foreign countries

one day i counted 14 jets going south in one hour

if you are american you are always welcomed home : )

David K - 8-10-2020 at 04:42 PM

Fake News (NY Times)

AKgringo - 8-10-2020 at 05:05 PM

I am going on memory right now (never a good idea) but I seem to remember that early in the pandemic, the State Department warned US citizens abroad to return right then, or be prepared to stay where they were until the crisis was passed! Am I wrong?

mtgoat666 - 8-10-2020 at 05:39 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Fake News (NY Times)


I trust the NYT to expose Trump's lies. Given Trump's rate of telling lies, I don't know how the NYT manages to keep up! The NYT works hard!

How do you tell when Trump is spinning lies and misinformation? Any time Trump accuses someone of lying or "fake news," then you know that someone is telling the truth about Trump and his associates!

TMW - 8-10-2020 at 05:48 PM

If you are neighed entry into the US at the border just explain your constitutional right to enter. Be as bold as those who don't want to wear a mask. It's your right, that'll show em.

Outing Americans

MrBillM - 8-11-2020 at 08:55 AM

On the cable news this a.m., one legal authority pointed out something that I (and others) have referenced in the past.

When one arrives at the immigration check, they have already entered the United States. U.S. citizens at that point can be detained or quarantined, but NOT deported.

plan keeping U.S citizens from entering U.S - memo

fruitdoc - 8-11-2020 at 10:11 AM

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53740840


I hope this never happens .

Hook - 8-11-2020 at 01:23 PM

Quote: Originally posted by fruitdoc  
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53740840


I hope this never happens .


I have a problem with two claims in this article.

One, it states that cases have "surged" in recent months, in the US. That's true, but only if you go by calendar months. And it probably doesnt apply to July or August. By weekly average, the US has now experienced four straight weeks of declining cases and deaths. Hospitalizations remain flat.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/covidvi...

Not to mention that the definition of "surged" is a very arbitrary descriptor.

And, two, none of Mexico's statistics on testing or cases or deaths can be believed. Mexico's health minister went on record several months ago, stating that Mexico was not going to do the level of testing that would show how prevalent it is. And they havent, according to a recent article in Foreign Policy magazine, that was picked up by Mexico News Daily, recently.

Then, there's the incongruous figures on covid deaths that fly in the face of what health care workers and funeral directors have reported.

But this media concocted drumbeat must continue; apparently through the first Monday in November, I would suspect.

Alan - 8-12-2020 at 08:59 AM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
I am going on memory right now (never a good idea) but I seem to remember that early in the pandemic, the State Department warned US citizens abroad to return right then, or be prepared to stay where they were until the crisis was passed! Am I wrong?
That was the notice I read and booked my flight back home that afternoon.

elgatoloco - 8-14-2020 at 08:24 AM

Priorities :barf::fire: