The US is weighing new rules that would temporarily bar US citizens and legal residents from entering the US to control a surge in coronavirus cases.

But US citizens and lawful residents have so far been exempt from travel restrictions regarding entering the US.

It notes that any order applying to US citizens and permanent residents should protect individuals' constitutional rights and would only apply in "the rarest of circumstances".

It is unclear whether this would legally allow the government to deny entry to citizens or residents, however, or how long they might be prohibited from returning.

Discussing the spikes in the southern US at a briefing last month, he told reporters: "We're also sharing a 2,000 mile border with Mexico, as we know very well, and cases are surging in Mexico, unfortunately."

In July, the US ambassador to Mexico said 90% of those crossing the southern border were US citizens or permanent residents

A proposed rule would allow officials to deny US citizens and legal residents entry over Covid-19