Minutes after taking office on Monday, officials from the Trump administration shut down the CBP One app, a tool used by migrants to schedule appointments at U.S.-Mexico border ports of entry.
This action effectively canceled all pending appointments for migrants without visas seeking legal entry into the United States. The move is part of a broader strategy to tighten border control measures, even as migration levels have decreased significantly in recent months. According to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data, December saw 96,048 migrant encounters, with 48,722 attempting legal entry through ports of entry.
The CBP One app was a key feature of the previous administration’s approach to directing migrants toward lawful entry methods. However, the Trump administration’s actions mark a shift in policy, including the reintroduction of the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), commonly referred to as the “Remain in Mexico” policy.
Under the MPP, approximately 70,000 third-country nationals were sent back to Mexico between 2019 and 2021 to await the outcome of their U.S. asylum applications. The new administration plans to implement additional changes through executive orders, signaling a return to stricter immigration policies.
These developments highlight a significant pivot in the U.S. approach to border management, underscoring a renewed focus on enforcement and the dismantling of pathways established under the previous administration.
