Migrants can now apply for asylum from southern Mexico using the CBP One app

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has expanded the area from which migrants can access the CBP One app, Non-Mexicans can apply for asylum seeker appointments in the states of Tabasco and Chiapas in addition to northern and central Mexico.

Until now, asylum seekers had to stay in the northern states of Mexico or in Mexico City to apply for asylum. This expansion is intended to reduce the pressure on the border towns And to offer migrants safer waiting conditions, far from the violence to which they are particularly exposed at the northern border.

First launched in 2020, the CBP One app is a central point of contact for immigration cases and, since the Biden administration’s policy changes in June 2023, the primary method for migrants to request asylum appointments.

According to CBP, the app offers 1,450 appointments daily at eight border crossings between the USA and Mexico. Since its launch in 2023, the CBP One app has processed 264,500 non-citizen applications despite ongoing issues with crashes and error messages.

Mexican authorities have welcomed the update and hope it will reduce the influx of migrants into border towns. However, migrant advocacy groups have criticized the app, claiming it violates international law by restricting access for asylum seekers and migrants are forced to wait in dangerous conditions in Mexico.

Since its launch, the app has been criticized for technical glitches such as frequent error messages and language barriers. In response, the Department of Homeland Security conducted an audit that found Security risks, system crashes and unequal access to appointmentswhich found that CBP had not fully addressed technical deficiencies in the app’s design. CBP agreed to implement recommended improvements to improve the app’s security and functionality.

Since its introduction, the The CBP One app processed 264,500 non-citizen applications in 2023. Recent updates to the app include prioritizing those waiting the longest for an appointment. For now, the CBP One app remains a controversial but central tool for managing asylum claims at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Immigration is an important issue in the upcoming US elections. with over 6.4 million border crossings since President Biden took office. The overburdened asylum system, with over 2 million pending cases leading to a significant backlog, underscores the need for reform.