On the first day of his presidency, Donald Trump issued an order to stop the government’s use of CBP One, an online app used primarily by individuals at the southern border to apply for asylum in the US. On Monday, it was announced that the app has been repurposed as a platform for “self-deportation.”
Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, stated that the app has been rebranded as “CBP Home” and anyone with the old app will be redirected to the updated version. She added that the CBP Home app offers individuals the option to leave the country voluntarily and potentially return legally in the future, or face deportation and never return.
Laura Rivera, a senior staff attorney at Just Futures Law, advised immigrant community members to be cautious of promises that encourage self-deportation and instead seek legal advice from trusted sources. Rivera also expressed concerns about privacy issues, as the original CBP One app collected biometric data and photos, allowing for the expansion of government databases.
The relaunch of the app has raised concerns about the potential weaponization of such tools for surveillance and punishment, said Rivera. Additionally, the app’s use of facial recognition technology has been criticized for glitches, language issues, and allegations of racial biases.
The Trump administration has taken a strong stance against undocumented immigration, implementing measures such as cancelling legal pathways for immigrants, banning asylum at borders, terminating private sponsorship programs, and suspending the US’s refugee resettlement program. When the CBP One app was cancelled, it left around 30,000 individuals waiting in Mexico without scheduled appointments, creating uncertainty. Originally launched during Trump’s first term and later expanded by Joe Biden’s administration, the app had its share of criticism for its mandatory use, limitations on appointments, and the impact it had on vulnerable groups stranded in Mexico.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/10/us-self-deport-app-cbp-home-immigration
