The Mexican states of Chiapas and Tabasco will be added to the areas where migrants can schedule online appointments to enter the United States using the CBP One app, U.S. authorities announced on Saturday.
This initiative, implemented by the administration of President Joe Biden, could ease the burden on the Mexican government and reduce the risks for individuals attempting to reach Mexico's northern border to seek asylum, according to an AP news release.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stated that this measure is in response to a request from Mexico, which has become an increasingly close partner to Washington in efforts to manage large-scale migration flows.
New Policy Implementation
CBP explained that the new policy will take effect soon, though no exact date was provided. However, the agency noted that this change aims to prevent migrants from having to travel north across the country to secure one of the 1,450 daily appointments available.
The statement emphasized collaboration with the Mexican government to adjust policies and practices in response to the latest migration trends and security needs.
The document confirms that bilateral relations between Mexico and the United States have significantly reduced migration since the end of last year, as stated by Mexico's Foreign Relations Secretary, Alicia Bárcena.
Impact on Migration and Border Security
U.S. authorities have indicated that increased surveillance by Mexico has led to a considerable drop in the number of migrants detained for crossing the border unauthorized in the first half of the year.
The presence of Mexican officials at checkpoints on highways and railways leading to the U.S. border has been increased, resulting in most migrants being sent back to the southern part of the country, AP reported.
In June, Washington decided to temporarily halt asylum processing for those entering the country without authorization. This made scheduling appointments through CBP One one of the few options available for migrants seeking asylum in the United States, further reducing unauthorized border crossings.
As a result, in July, the number of unauthorized crossings dropped by 30% compared to the previous month, reaching the lowest level during Biden's presidency and the lowest since September 2020, according to U.S. officials.
Bárcena noted last Friday that, “We have significantly eased the pressure on the northern border, which I believe has helped make our relationship with the United States very dynamic and positive.”
Since the CBP One app was first introduced in January 2023, over 680,000 individuals have scheduled appointments at eight land crossings along the Mexico-U.S. border. Most of these migrants come from Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti.
However, the CBP One mobile app has experienced numerous technical issues, despite being crucial for migrants at the border to schedule appointments and present their asylum cases at U.S. entry ports. These technical problems, which have prevented dozens of migrants from confirming appointments for asylum interviews at the U.S.-Mexico border, have been acknowledged by the U.S. government.
Despite these issues, a total of 17,563 Cubans entered the United States through its borders in June, according to CBP data. This figure represents the lowest entry in the first nine months of the U.S. fiscal year (FY2024), which began on October 1 of the previous year.
FAQs on the New CBP One Application Policy
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the recent policy changes allowing migrants to apply for U.S. entry from additional Mexican states via the CBP One app.
What is the CBP One app?
The CBP One app is a mobile application developed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection that allows migrants to schedule appointments for entry into the United States and present their asylum cases at ports of entry.
Which new states have been added for CBP One appointments?
The Mexican states of Chiapas and Tabasco have been added to the areas where migrants can schedule appointments through the CBP One app.
When will the new policy take effect?
The exact date has not been specified, but U.S. Customs and Border Protection has indicated that the new policy will take effect soon.
Why is this policy being implemented?
The policy aims to ease the burden on the Mexican government and reduce the risks for migrants traveling to the northern border of Mexico to seek asylum in the United States.