Emotions ran high on Monday as tears and disappointment swept through the community following the newly inaugurated President Donald Trump’s decision to terminate a mobile app that enabled migrants to apply for legal entry into the U.S. as asylum-seekers. In addition, all previously scheduled appointments made through the app have been abruptly canceled.
The CBP One app was introduced during the Biden administration as a measure to reduce illegal crossings at the southwest border by providing a legitimate avenue for asylum requests. Once implemented, it became the sole method for individuals to secure an appointment for their asylum applications.
The train thundered past the improvised immigrant encampment in Mexico City, sounding its horn and causing individuals to scatter against the walls for safety. It operates with punctuality at 10 a.m., as noted by the residents—most of whom have been residing there for several months, anticipating the opportunity to apply for asylum in the United States. Currently, they, along with hundreds of thousands of others throughout Mexico, find themselves in a state of uncertainty following Donald Trump’s termination of the CBP One application, which had facilitated asylum appointments. As Trump was inaugurated on Monday, the application abruptly ceased functioning, leading to distressing scenes at the border where individuals were seen in tears as their appointments—some scheduled for just hours later—were canceled. In the aftermath, Trump has enacted a series of stringent anti-immigration executive orders, declaring a state of emergency at the southern border, deploying troops for reinforcement, and reinstating the Remain in Mexico policy, which mandates that non-Mexican immigrants remain south of the border while their asylum claims are under review.
‘CBP One’ Immigration App
The CBP One application was introduced two years ago to regulate and manage the influx of asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border by permitting only 1,450 appointments daily, a figure significantly lower than the actual demand. In January, individuals sought U.S. immigration appointments via the CBP One app at a shelter located near the Arizona-Mexico border. Adhering to the established protocols for entry into the United States, many asylum seekers now face the prospect of deportation under the Trump administration, as it has become nearly obligatory for them to secure appointments; those arriving without prior arrangements are often turned away. This situation has left asylum seekers with a stark choice: endure prolonged waits, frequently in perilous regions of Mexico, or resort to human smugglers to facilitate their crossing. A significant number opted for the former, resulting in approximately one million appointments being made since the launch of CBP One.
Over time, the app expanded its availability beyond the border to central and southern Mexico. This, coupled with the actions of Mexican authorities to forcibly manage immigrant populations in the southern regions, has led to a decrease in the concentration of migrants in northern border cities. Consequently, shelters in areas such as Ciudad Juárez and Tijuana have remained underutilized for nearly a year. However, the sudden discontinuation of CBP One, which had been utilized by 270,000 asylum seekers throughout Mexico, threatens to disrupt the tenuous stability at the border. Additionally, around 30,000 pre-scheduled appointments have been annulled. Individuals stranded at Mexico’s southern border now face the dilemma of either continuing their journey or returning to their home countries, as observed in Tapachula, Mexico, on Tuesday. Andrew Bahena from Chirla, an immigrant advocacy organization, remarked, “CBP One was fraught with issues and ultimately served as a mechanism that compelled individuals to wait in Mexico to access the U.S. asylum process. However, the manner in which it was terminated was entirely unacceptable.”
What is CBP One and how has it been utilized?
The app CBP One was introduced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in October 2020 to provide travelers with features like accessing their arrival and departure records and scheduling cargo inspections, as highlighted by an analysis from the American Immigration Council. However, when Title 42 – a policy from the Trump administration that permitted the quick expulsion of migrants on public health grounds during the COVID-19 pandemic – was set to end in May 2023, the Biden administration implemented the “Circumvention of Lawful Pathways” rule. This rule made the app the main method for migrants to pre-schedule asylum screenings at entry points. Migrants could download the app to request an appointment, but they faced a semi-random selection process and a limited number of appointments available each day, according to the council.
Address the technical issues:
- In the initial phase of its enhanced features, users encountered frequent app freezes and crashes while attempting to book appointments, as highlighted by immigration specialist Austin Kocher in a journal article.
- Concerns were raised regarding racial bias in the app’s facial recognition technology, which allegedly struggled to accurately identify individuals with darker skin tones compared to those with lighter skin.
- According to Putzel-Kavanaugh, the app never achieved a fully “seamless” experience, leaving many users frustrated.
- However, as time progressed, a majority of users adapted and discovered the essential steps needed to navigate the app effectively.
- Despite its shortcomings, the learning curve allowed many to eventually utilize the app for their needs, albeit with ongoing challenges.
Impact on the Immigrants:
- The app is not completely disappearing; it can still be downloaded from the iTunes App Store.
- A CBP webpage states that the app’s feature for undocumented individuals to submit information and book appointments is no longer active, and all existing appointments have been canceled.
- Putzel-Kavanaugh describes the lack of a backup plan for migrants with scheduled appointments as “quite cruel.”
- She references a New York Times report about ICE officials being authorized to swiftly deport migrants who were temporarily allowed into the U.S. under Biden.
- Many people waited a long time for their appointments, intending to migrate legally and follow the established rules, but they were ultimately unable to do so.
