Trump Declares Border Emergency and Proposes Ending Birthright Citizenship in the US

 

Closure of CBP One and Its Impact on Immigration Policies

The new administration has also taken swift action to eliminate CBP One, a mobile app that migrants used to schedule appointments at ports of entry.

Praise for CBP One:

Officials from the Biden administration highlighted the app's role in reducing detentions at the border since its launch in January 2023. It was the only legal method to request asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border.

End of the App:

The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website now states that the app is "no longer available." Users are receiving messages indicating that "existing appointments through CBP One are no longer valid."

Appointment Numbers:

According to CBS, a partner of the BBC in the U.S., the Biden administration scheduled approximately 30,000 appointments for migrants to enter the country over the next three weeks. It is estimated that 270,000 migrants were waiting in Mexico for the opportunity to cross the border using the app.

Migrants’ Reaction:

In the Mexican border city of Tijuana, many migrants expressed feeling defeated and discouraged after learning about the end of CBP One.

One example is Oralia, a Mexican woman who fled cartel violence in her home state with her epileptic son. She had been waiting for an appointment for seven months and expressed her hope that "God touches his [Trump’s] heart."

Other Changes:

Among the first actions, Trump also ordered the shutdown of a Biden-era initiative that allowed up to 30,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter the U.S. monthly via flights. Like CBP One, this measure was designed to reduce the number of illegal crossings.

These decisions represent a drastic shift in immigration policies, affecting thousands of people seeking safety and opportunities.