NYT blames US for exporting coronavirus to poor countries
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An editorial published in the New York Times blamed the US for exporting the coronavirus to poor countries through forced deportation.

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In this March 12, 2020 file photo, an immigration worker in an orange jacket and wearing a mask as a precaution against the spread of the new coronavirus, carries a young Guatemalan migrant who was deported from the U.S., followed by another deportee, at La Aurora International airport in Guatemala City. (Photo: AP)

From March, the Trump administration has adopted a tougher policy of shutting its borders and deporting illegal immigrants, many of whom have been infected with COVID-19, in a bid to reduce the risk of imported cases. However, the editorial described this act of shutting the border as ironic because it inevitably accelerated the spread of the virus and has worsened the global pandemic situation.

Countries include Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Brazil, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic are among the most affected after many immigrants who have been infected with the virus were sent back to their homeland in deportation flights.  Taking Guatemala for example, on one flight run by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 71 of 76 deportees tested positive for COVID-19. 

Despite oppositions from Democrats, the United Nations and other human rights groups, immigration officials argue that easing the policy will cause a huge inflow of immigrants at the borders and have shown no signs of putting the policy on hold. 

Seeing the grave situation, the editorial urged more efforts by the Congress, US courts and nongovernmental organizations to end the federal government's deportation action and expose the immigration polices for the assault on American values that they represent.