- The Department of Homeland Security has changed the Customs and Border Patrol One app. This shift follows Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s promise during her confirmation hearing to restrict asylum seekers’ entry.
- President Donald Trump moved to end the use of the CBP One app for migrant entry.
- The Biden administration broadened the app’s accessibility.
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that the Customs and Border Patrol One app will now only serve to assist noncitizens in leaving the country. Before the change, the app was used to help migrants travel to the U.S.
Trump Administration’s stance on migrant travel
A DHS spokesperson confirmed to Fox News that under the Trump administration, migrants will no longer be allowed to “illegally fly unless it is out of our country to self-deport.”
This decision follows statements made by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during her confirmation hearing in January 2025. During the hearing, she pledged to take immediate action to end asylum seekers’ entry into the U.S.
“If confirmed and I have the opportunity to be secretary on day one, CBP One will be shut down,” Noem said.
How the CBP One app works
The CBP One app is a free resource that individuals can download on their phones. It tracks users’ location of origin and allows them to upload documents and a photo.
Once verified, the app grants users the ability to board a flight and enter the U.S. legally through one of eight ports of entry for processing.
The Transportation Security Administration also used the app to verify migrants when they pass through airport security.
Biden’s changes and Trump’s new directives
The Biden administration expanded access to the app. This streamlined the process for notifying the federal government of individuals planning to seek refuge in the U.S. Mexicans, Haitians and Cubans were among those temporarily allowed into the U.S. while awaiting approval of their asylum applications.
However, on his first day in office, President Donald Trump ended the use of the CBP One app for allowing migrants into the country while they awaited approval. His administration also paused parole applications and gave Immigration and Customs Enforcement the authority to cancel migrants’ parole status.
