Trump Shuts Down CBP One: The Impact on Migrants at US Borders
On January 20, 2025, immediately following President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the U.S. government discontinued the CBP One mobile application, which had been instrumental in facilitating legal entry appointments for migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The abrupt termination of the app led to the cancellation of thousands of scheduled appointments, leaving many migrants in shock and despair. For instance, Nidia Montenegro, a 52-year-old Venezuelan migrant who had fled violence and endured kidnapping en route to the U.S., arrived in Tijuana for her asylum appointment, only to find it canceled. She expressed her distress, stating, “It’s over. We can do nothing.”
Similarly, Erica Ramirez and her family, who had been waiting for 11 months, were among approximately 200 migrants at the San Ysidro border checkpoint whose appointments were annulled. Despite the setback, they refused to leave, hoping for their appointments to be rescheduled.
The CBP One app, introduced in 2023 under the Biden administration, allowed migrants to schedule asylum appointments, streamlining the process and reducing wait times. Its shutdown is part of President Trump’s broader immigration policy changes, which include reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy, requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico during U.S. immigration proceedings, and deploying troops to the border to enhance security.
The sudden policy shift has left many migrants stranded in border cities like Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez, facing uncertainty and fearing deportation. Odalys Fundicheli, a 62-year-old Cuban migrant, and her 14-year-old granddaughter, Lía, who had hoped to reunite with family in Dallas, now find themselves in limbo. Fundicheli voiced her concern, saying, “I don’t know what will become of us.”
In response to the growing humanitarian concerns, Mexican authorities are preparing for a potential migration crisis by setting up additional shelters and seeking coordination with the U.S. government to manage scheduled deportations.