Biden-Era Asylum App Backfires: Migrants Ordered to Leave US "Immediately"

A significant shift in US immigration policy is causing widespread alarm as migrants who legally entered the country using the CBP One app are now being told to leave "immediately." The move affects the approximately 900,000 individuals who were granted "parole" to live and work in the US after using the app to schedule asylum appointments.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that the decision to cancel these paroles aligns with promises to secure the borders and protect national security. However, critics are blasting the move as a cruel reversal that jeopardizes the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable individuals.

The CBP One app, initially launched in 2020, was expanded under the Biden administration to streamline the asylum process, allowing migrants to schedule appointments at ports of entry. It was hailed as a way to reduce border detentions and protect asylum seekers.

Now, under what critics say is a Trump administration initiative, the app has been rebranded to CBP Home and is used for "self-deportations." Migrants receive notices advising them to depart the US immediately, warning of potential law enforcement actions, including removal, if they remain without a lawful basis.

The email notice stated "it is time for you to leave the United States,"

The notices also state that any benefits received as part of their parole, including work authorization, are cancelled. Migrants are warned of potential criminal prosecution, civil fines, and other penalties.

Immigration advocates are expressing outrage, pointing out that many of those affected are from countries like Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador, where they face significant dangers. The sudden revocation of their legal status leaves them vulnerable and without recourse.

While the DHS has clarified that the cancellations do not apply to migrants under specific parole programs for Ukrainians and Afghans, the impact on other nationalities is substantial.

The situation is rapidly evolving, and further details are expected as immigration officials address the growing concerns and legal challenges surrounding this controversial policy shift.