Migrants who gained temporary permission to reside in the United States through the CBP One app under the Biden administration have now been ordered to voluntarily self-deport, US media reported on Tuesday.
A spokesperson from the US Department of Homeland Security confirmed to AFP that “formal termination notices” had been sent to specific “illegal aliens,” although details on the selection process were not disclosed.
“Formal termination notices have been issued, and affected aliens are urged to voluntarily self-deport using the CBP Home App,” the DHS spokesperson stated. “Those who refuse will be found, removed, and permanently barred from reentry.”
The CBP One app, introduced in January 2023, allowed migrants to book appointments at certain southern US border entry points. It played a key role in the Biden administration’s strategy for humanitarian parole.
According to National Public Radio, the latest deportation orders could impact over 930,000 migrants.
In his second term, President Donald Trump had revoked the use of the CBP One app, cutting off access to a platform that enabled migrants in Mexico to schedule meetings with US officials at designated border crossings to apply for temporary residency.
During his campaign, Trump vowed to deport “millions” of undocumented migrants, emphasizing his stance on illegal immigration. He frequently referred to migrants as “animals” and “monsters,” accusing them of contributing to violent crime.
“Canceling these paroles is a promise kept to the American people to secure our borders and protect national security,” the DHS spokesperson remarked on Tuesday.
Those affected by the cancellations received emails informing them that the DHS was exercising its discretionary power under US law.
This action follows last month’s termination by the Trump administration of the legal status for 532,000 Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan migrants, who were given weeks to leave the country.
