President Donald Trump’s administration has taken swift action to dismantle a key component of the Biden-era immigration system, canceling hundreds of thousands of migrant visa appointments.
At a Glance
- Trump administration shuts down CBP One app, canceling all pending immigration appointments
- Nearly 919,000 migrants entered the U.S. through the app since January 2023
- 270,000 migrants were waiting to enter the U.S. through the app system
- Move signals a return to more traditional, stringent immigration protocols
- Concerns raised about potential increase in illegal border crossings
Trump Administration Ends CBP One App
President Donald Trump’s administration has terminated the CBP One app, a cornerstone of the Biden administration’s immigration policy. This mobile application, which allowed migrants to schedule visa-related appointments, has been instrumental in managing the flow of legal entries into the United States.
The termination of the app has led to the cancellation of all pending appointments, directly impacting approximately 270,000 migrants waiting on the Mexican side of the U.S.-Mexico border. The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency announced, “Effective January 20, 2025 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time, the functionalities of CBP ONE that previously allowed undocumented aliens to submit advance information and schedule appointments at eight southwest border ports of entry is no longer available. All appointments have been cancelled.”
Since its inception in January 2023, the CBP One app has facilitated the entry of nearly 919,000 migrants into the United States. The app’s daily cap of 1,450 appointments was consistently overwhelmed, with migrants attempting to secure slots over 166 million times. The termination of this system marks a significant shift in immigration policy.
Critics of the move, including Andrea Flores, a former White House immigration policy worker, have expressed concerns about potential consequences. Flores warned that migrants “will likely have no choice but to make an unauthorized crossing” without the app.
Their other choice is…not illegally crossing the border.
Trump’s Broader Immigration Strategy
The cancellation of the CBP One app is part of a larger strategy to reshape federal immigration policy.
President Trump has outlined plans to implement more stringent measures to control immigration and enhance border security. In a recent statement, Trump declared, “I will declare a national emergency at our southern border. All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came.”
“We will reinstate my remain in Mexico policy. I will end the practice of catch and release. And I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country. Under the orders I signed today, we will also be designating the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations,” Trump said.
The adults are back in the room!