Trump Slams Door on CBP One App Minutes After Swearing In
President Donald Trump wasted no time flexing his muscle on immigration. Moments after his second term began, he shut down the CBP One app, the digital lifeline nearly a million migrants used to enter the US legally under Biden. The move left thousands stranded and in tears along the southern border.
Heartbreak at the Border
Migrants waiting at the US-Mexico line were left devastated. Margelis Tinoco, a Colombian desperate to cross into El Paso from Ciudad Juarez, broke down as the app went dark. “I waited so long to do this the right way,” she sobbed.
Meanwhile, Cuban asylum seeker Yaime Perez was spotted weeping at the Paso del Norte Bridge, her legal entry hopes crushed. Venezuelan migrant Johnny Flores fumed:
“We had the courage to wait for our appointments and do it legally. Now they’ve canceled everything. It’s unfair.”
CBP One: The App That Was
Launched under Biden, the CBP One app let migrants book asylum appointments and helped travellers zoom through customs. Essential for legal migration, it was swiftly axed as one of Trump’s first acts back in office.
The official CBP website confirmed:
“Effective January 20, 2025, the functionalities of CBP One… are no longer available, and existing appointments have been canceled.”
Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Kicks Off
Trump vowed in his inauguration speech:
“All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions of criminal aliens to the places they came from.”
- Remain in Mexico returns — asylum seekers must wait outside the US for court dates.
- Catch-and-release ends for good.
- More US troops deployed to beef up border security.
He also hinted at overhauling birthright citizenship and asylum laws.
Tensions Rise as Migrants Face Uncertainty
With crossings closed at key points like El Paso, riot police were out in force to curb unrest. Migrants told of perilous treks through jungles and deserts, only to be met with shutdowns at the border.
Still, determination remains. Flores said:
“If I waited seven months for an appointment, I can wait a few days to see what happens.”
Backlash Hits Trump’s Blitz
Migrant advocates slammed the sudden policy shift as cruel and chaotic. Legal experts warned Trump’s birthright citizenship shake-up could clash with the 14th Amendment. For now, the southern border stands at the frontline of Trump’s intensified immigration offensive — a stark signal of his no-nonsense approach to US border control.
