CBP One
CBP One is a discontinued mobile app developed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).[1][2] The app was shut down on January 20, 2025 by the Trump administration.[3]
History
[edit]CBP One was launched on October 28, 2020, primarily to help commercial trucking companies schedule cargo inspections.[4][5]
In January 2023, CBP One's functionality was expanded to include unauthorized migrants seeking protection from violence, poverty, or persecution.[5]
In May 2023, CBP One was designated by the Biden administration as the only path to request asylum on the U.S.-Mexico border and book asylum appointments.[6][7][8] Nearly one million persons arranged screening appointments using the app—about 1,450 each day—since January 2023.[9]
On January 20, 2025, shortly after being inaugurated, the Trump administration ended the use of the app. In addition to the app no longer being used, any existing appointments with the app were cancelled.[10] Early morning 5:00 a.m. confirmed appointments on inauguration day were kept as scheduled, but by 1:00 p.m. the app notified asylum seekers that their appointment was cancelled.[9] Some of those with cancelled appointments were part of a Mexican transportation program for persons with confirmed CBP appointments.[9]
Features
[edit]CBP One facilitates access to a range of CBP services.[1] It has become the mandated platform for migrants at Mexico–United States border to schedule appointments for asylum processing at ports of entry.[7] A class action lawsuit against the US government was filed by humanitarian organizations and those affected by the app. They argued the need for Internet access and a smartphone, as well as the limited language options, made it harder to file for asylum. In a 2024 report,[11] Amnesty International described the app's selection process as a "lottery", with some waiting for over a year.[6]
Additionally, it is the required application for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans to submit biometric data necessary for travel authorization and parole under specific national programs.[5] The collection of personal information was criticized by Amnesty International, adding that its facial recognition systems were unreliable for some demographics, and had a potential for discrimination.[6]
CBP One requires migrants to be located in central and northern Mexico for functionality.[1][12] The app verifies a user's location and blocks attempts to make appointments from outside authorized regions.[12]
CBP One was available on Android and iOS in five languages: English, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "The new US border wall is an app". MIT Technology Review.
- ^ "Once a ticket scalpers' tool, auto clickers now help migrants enter the U.S." Rest of World. February 23, 2023.
- ^ Aleaziz, Hamed. "The Trump administration moved quickly to shut down a government app that allows migrants to schedule appointments to enter at a port of entry". The New York Times. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
- ^ Miroff, Nick (February 20, 2023). "How Biden officials aim to use a mobile app to cut illegal U.S. entries". Washington Post.
- ^ a b c "CBP One: An Overview". American Immigration Council. December 9, 2021.
- ^ a b c Fàbregas, Alicia (July 14, 2024). "The dangers of CBP One, the app to request asylum at the US-Mexico border: Extortion, kidnappings and months-long waits". EL PAÍS English.
- ^ a b c "Seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border? You'd better speak English or Spanish". Rest of World. June 1, 2023.
- ^ "Asylum-seekers say joy over end of Title 42 turns to anguish induced by new US rules". AP News. May 28, 2023.
- ^ a b c Mendoza, Alexandra (January 20, 2025). "Migrants waiting in Tijuana feel immediate sting of Trump's border crackdown". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
- ^ "Trump ends CBP One, a Biden-era border app that gave legal entry to nearly 1 million migrants". AP News. 2025-01-20. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
- ^ "USA: CBP One: A blessing or a trap?". Amnesty International. May 8, 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ a b "U.S. Border Patrol's glitchy, mandatory app is a nightmare for migrants". Rest of World. March 9, 2023.