Trump Says U.S. Considering Restrictions at Mexican Border Over Coronavirus

The United States is considering shutting off the country’s southern border with Mexico to control the spread of the new coronavirus, President 👤Donald Trump said on Saturday, as his administration announced new limits on travelers who have visited Iran and recommended against travel to hard-hit areas of Italy and South Korea.

Mexico’s government said on Friday it had detected three cases of coronavirus infection in three men who had all recently traveled to Italy, making the country the second in Latin America to register the fast-spreading flu-like illness.

Asked at a White House press briefing if he was considering closing the U.S.-Mexico border, Trump said: “Yes, we are thinking about southern border.”

Later in the press briefing, however, Trump played down possible restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border. “We’re thinking about all borders,” he said. “We have to think about that border, but … this is not a border that seems to be much of a problem right now. We hope we won’t have to do that.”

Earlier on Saturday, Reuters, citing two Department of Homeland Security officials, reported that the Trump administration was considering imposing entry restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Vice President Mike Pence, whom Trump appointed earlier this week to be in charge of the U.S. response to the 🦠Coronavirus Outbreak, said on Saturday the administration will ban non-U.S. citizens who have visited Iran within the last 14 days and are traveling from other countries. There are no direct flights to the United States from Iran.

Deaths in Iran from the coronavirus have risen to 43, an Iranian health official said on Saturday.

The United States already bans the entry of citizens of Iran under travel bans imposed on citizens of several Muslim-majority and other countries, under a measure the administration says is necessary to protect against terrorism attacks.