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.”…

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 New York Times reported:

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.

End excerpt.Please read the complete New York Times article at this link.

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.”

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; ⁦@acaldwellwsj⁩ ⁦@MHackman⁩ https://t.co/iF1PpIVIag

— Chad Day (@ChadSDay) March 18, 2020

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.”

#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.https://t.co/Nki3EEI5zO

— Hispanic Caucus (@HispanicCaucus) March 18, 2020

A new migrant caravan was reported to have left for the U.S. border from Central America several days ago.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/03/us-to-turn-back-asylum-seekers-illegal-aliens-at-border-un-stops-refugee-resettlement-due-to-coronavirus-reports/

Lockdown in France: Citizens Need Govt Form to Justify Why They Are Outside

Citizens in France will be forced to present authorities with a form justifying why they have left their houses, during a nationwide lockdown attempting to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The entire nation of France entered into lockdown on Tuesday, under emergency measures that will be in place for at least the next 15 days. The measures announced by President Emmanuel Macron require people to refrain from going outside for all but essential purposes.

Under the lockdown, citizens will need to fill out a form provided by the government, stating their purpose for leaving their homes. Acceptable reasons to go outside will include:

Going from home to work when working from home is not possible

Making essential purchases in authorised local shops

Going to a healthcare professional

Travelling for childcare or to support vulnerable people

Exercise only on an individual basis, around the home and without any gathering

Some 100,000 police officers and members of the Gendarmerie paramilitary force will patrol the streets to enforce the lockdown, handing out fines of €38 to €135 to those who fail to produce correct paperwork while out in public, according to Le Parisien.

“These measures are strong, demanding, but necessary and essential to protect all French men and women, to prevent the spread of the virus and the overload of our health system,” said the minister of the interior Christophe Castaner, who urged people to “stay at home”.

“These are the most restrictive measures in force in Europe today,” Castaner added.

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2020/03/17/lockdown-in-france-citizens-need-govt-form-justify-why-they-are-outside/

US Forces Are Withdrawing From Al-Qaim Base On Syrian-Iraqi Border

US forces are withdrawing from al-Qaim, on the Syrian-Iraqi border, and two other key military bases in Iraq in the coming weeks. Therefore, the US military will leave 3 of its 8 official bases in the country.

The decision to do so was announced on March 16 under a pretext of the ‘success’ in the fight against ISIS. However, in fact, it followed a recent increase of rocket attacks on US facilities across Iraq.

Al-Qaim is located on the highway between the Iraqi capital of Bahdad and the Syrian city of Deir Ezzor. The city of al-Bukamal, which Israeli and US media often label as a stronghold of Iranian-backed forces, is located on the Syrian side of the border. Therefore, the US military just officially abandoned its attempts to cut off the land link between Syria and Iraq thus preventing a free movement of troops, weapons and other suppleis from one country to another.

https://southfront.org/us-forces-are-withdrawing-from-al-qaim-base-on-syrian-iraqi-border/

Turkish-backed Militants Protest In Tell Abyad Because Of Salary Delays

Turkish-backed miltiants have been protesting in the area of Tell Abyad, northern Syria, because of a regular salary delays. If somebody still believes that Turkish-backed ‘moderate rebels’ are motivated by the ideology of democracy (or at least Neo-Ottomanism), there is an inside into the real situation on the ground.

In 2019, similar protests erupted several times in the Turkish-occupied part of Aleppo province. However, the situation there was de-escalated because the deployment in Aleppo province allows Turkish proxies to participate in a variety of criminal activities (weapon, drug and oil smuggling). So, they have a constant source of income.

At the same time, Turkish-backed forces in Tell Abyad face apparent difficulties with such things because there is little to loot and smuggle in the area. The situation is so tense that the Turkish Army has been forced to intervene in order to prevent a further escalation.

https://southfront.org/turkish-backed-militants-protest-in-tell-abyad-because-of-salary-delays-video/