Trump Closes CBP One App, Disrupting Legal Route for Migrants
Ex-President Trump halts the CBP One app, closing a significant pathway for asylum seekers to enter the U.S. legally.
On January 20, 2025, just hours after beginning a second term, former President Donald Trump enacted an executive order that effectively deactivated the CBP One mobile app. This app had enabled more than a million undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers to legally enter the United States.
Originally launched in October 2020 to assist commercial trucking companies with border inspections, the app was expanded in 2023 by the Biden administration to support migrants seeking asylum.
The app had become the primary means of securing asylum appointments at the U.S.-Mexico border, facilitating 1,450 appointments daily through a lottery system.
Trump’s executive order suspended the app's operations, canceling all current and future appointments, while declaring a national emergency at the southern border.
This suspension halts the only avenue asylum seekers had to schedule legal entry appointments.
Furthermore, Trump announced plans to deploy troops to the southern border and suggested imposing a 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada because of their border policies.
These changes are likely to face legal challenges from organizations like Amnesty International, yet Trump’s actions fulfill a critical campaign promise to tighten U.S. immigration policy.
Originally launched in October 2020 to assist commercial trucking companies with border inspections, the app was expanded in 2023 by the Biden administration to support migrants seeking asylum.
The app had become the primary means of securing asylum appointments at the U.S.-Mexico border, facilitating 1,450 appointments daily through a lottery system.
Trump’s executive order suspended the app's operations, canceling all current and future appointments, while declaring a national emergency at the southern border.
This suspension halts the only avenue asylum seekers had to schedule legal entry appointments.
Furthermore, Trump announced plans to deploy troops to the southern border and suggested imposing a 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada because of their border policies.
These changes are likely to face legal challenges from organizations like Amnesty International, yet Trump’s actions fulfill a critical campaign promise to tighten U.S. immigration policy.
