Trump administration orders 1M migrants admitted via CBP One app to self-deport or face ban
By isabelle // 2025-04-11
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  • Trump ends legal status for nearly one million migrants using the CBP One app.
  • DHS warns affected individuals to self-deport or face removal and a permanent entry ban.
  • The CBP One app, criticized as a mass parole scheme, was terminated due to security flaws.
  • Noncompliance may result in enforcement actions, financial penalties, and deportation.
  • The move is part of a broader crackdown aimed at reversing Biden-era immigration policies.
The Trump administration has terminated the legal status of nearly one million migrants who entered the U.S. using the Biden-era CBP One app. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the crackdown, framing it as a necessary step to address what she called the "worst border crisis in U.S. history." The administration is urging affected individuals to "self-deport immediately" or face potential removal and a permanent bar from reentering the country. This decision marks a sharp reversal of Biden-era policies that critics say opened the floodgates to illegal immigration.

A promise kept: Restoring border security

President Trump campaigned on a pledge to undo what his administration views as the reckless immigration policies of his predecessor. The termination of parole for CBP One app users is the latest in a series of aggressive enforcement actions taken since he returned to office. "The Biden Administration abused the parole authority to allow millions of illegal aliens into the U.S., which further fueled the worst border crisis in U.S. history," a DHS spokesperson said. Under federal law, Secretary Noem has full discretion to revoke parole, and the administration is now exercising that authority to restore order to the immigration system.

How the CBP One app became controversial

The CBP One app, launched in January 2023 under President Biden, was marketed as a tool to streamline asylum applications. Migrants could apply for humanitarian parole via smartphone and, upon approval, schedule appointments at ports of entry. By December 2024, more than 936,500 individuals had entered the U.S. through the program—mostly from Venezuela, Cuba, and Mexico. Supporters argued it reduced chaotic border surges, but critics, including Republican lawmakers, said it functioned as a mass parole scheme that bypassed immigration laws. A 2024 DHS Inspector General report added fuel to the controversy, revealing security flaws in the app’s verification process. Investigators found that facial recognition checks on submitted photos were inconsistent, raising concerns about fraud. President Trump said earlier this year that it was essentially a "phone app for smuggling illegals." His administration put an immediate stop to the program upon taking office, replacing it with the CBP Home App—now used exclusively for self-deportation.

Escalating consequences for noncompliance

Migrants who entered through CBP One are now receiving termination notices, warning that their parole status has been revoked. The notices instruct them to leave the U.S. voluntarily via the rebranded CBP Home App or face escalating penalties. "If you do not depart the United States immediately, you will be subject to potential law enforcement actions that will result in your removal from the United States," the notice states. A DHS official clarified that those who fail to comply "will be found, removed, and permanently barred from reentry." The administration has also signaled that financial penalties could apply to those who refuse to leave, though exact enforcement mechanisms remain under development. Encouraging self-deportation is a strategic move to manage the logistical challenge of removing such a large population, though mass enforcement actions are expected for those who ignore the directive.

Broader immigration crackdown underway

The CBP One reversal is part of a sweeping overhaul of immigration policy under Secretary Noem. The administration has also ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 600,000 Venezuelans and 500,000 Haitians, though legal challenges have temporarily stalled those efforts. Additionally, parole programs for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who flew into the U.S. with sponsors will be terminated in late April. Early results suggest these measures are having an impact. Since Trump took office, illegal border crossings have plummeted, reaching record-low levels in March. The administration attributes this to stricter enforcement and a deterrence-focused messaging campaign. By revoking parole for CBP One migrants, the Trump administration is sending a clear signal: mass parole programs will not be tolerated under its watch. This decisive action aligns with the president’s long-standing "America First" approach to immigration, prioritizing enforcement over the loopholes exploited by the previous administration. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com FoxNews.com NYPost.com
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