Skip to main content

Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

The Trump administration has officially terminated the CBP One app, a Biden-era program that allowed migrants seeking to enter the US to schedule asylum appointments at ports of entry legally.

Some shit you should know before you read: Back in early 2023, the Biden administration rolled out the CBP One app to streamline allowing migrants to claim asylum at the US-Mexico border legally. The app allowed migrants to schedule appointments at eight legal ports of entry, granting 1,450 daily slots on a lottery basis and enabling them to seek asylum or enter the US under immigration parole. According to the Biden administration, the app’s purpose was to provide a lawful, orderly, and safe pathway for migrants to enter the country while discouraging unauthorized border crossings and alleviating pressure on border enforcement resources.  

1000w Q95 1

What’s going on now: Shortly after Trump took office, the CBP One app was terminated and taken offline, canceling all existing appointments for migrants attempting to enter the US legally through border ports. Officials cited the app as a “magnet” for migration, claiming it encouraged people who might not qualify for asylum to bypass traditional processes and gain temporary entry under immigration parole.

The move has left approximately 30,000 migrants who were awaiting scheduled appointments in limbo and signals a broader crackdown on legal pathways introduced under the Biden administration. The shutdown aligns with Trump’s campaign promises to enforce stricter border control measures, including the reimplementation of policies like “Remain in Mexico,” which requires asylum seekers to await their case results outside the US.

Reactions to the decision have been divided. Supporters of the shutdown, including many Republican lawmakers, argue that the app undermined US immigration laws and served as a loophole for migrants to remain in the country for years as their cases languished in backlogged courts. Vice President JD Vance called the app a “scandal,” arguing that it facilitated illegal immigration under the guise of legal entry.

Meanwhile, opponents of the decision, including immigration advocates, say the app offered a humane and organized process for addressing migration at the southern border. They argue that its removal will strain resources and increase chaos at the border, as migrants desperate to enter the US may resort to more dangerous methods.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Keep up to date with our latest videos, news and content