Trump posted on Truth Social:
“Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 212(f):
‘Whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate.’”
He’s posting this to signal that he believes he can shut down asylum entirely, block entire nationalities, stop refugee admissions, ban classes of migrants wholesale, suspend normal immigration processes, and override Congress on immigration. He’s trying to prime supporters for the sweeping actions he claims he’ll take.
What he’s quoting is Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which gives a president temporary authority to restrict or suspend the entry of certain classes of non-citizens coming from outside the United States if their entry is considered harmful to national interests. But he’s using this language to suggest he has unlimited power over immigration, and the law doesn’t work the way he implies. Courts have consistently ruled that 212(f) is not a blank check: it only applies to people attempting to enter, not to immigrants, asylum seekers, or undocumented individuals already inside the country. It cannot be used to deport residents, detain people already here, revoke lawful status, or shut down asylum, because asylum rights are created by Congress and cannot be overridden by presidential proclamation. It also cannot be used to discriminate based on race or religion or to bypass constitutional protections like due process. Even his previous attempts to stretch 212(f) were blocked or significantly narrowed by the courts. In short, a president can pause or limit certain categories of entry at the border, but he cannot use this law to rewrite immigration policy, eliminate statutory protections, or impose sweeping bans that conflict with other federal laws or the Constitution.
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