Washington | President Joe Biden is expected to sign an executive order on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) allowing him to temporarily seal the US border with Mexico to migrants when crossings surge – a move that would suspend longtime protections for asylum seekers in the United States.

Mr Biden’s senior aides have briefed members of Congress in recent days on the forthcoming action and told them to expect the president to sign the order alongside mayors from south Texas, according to several people familiar with the plans.