The U.S. government has expanded the reach of its CBP One application, used to manage asylum requests at the southern border, to cover the entire Mexican territory starting August 23, 2024. This expansion, driven by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office, will not benefit all migrants equally. The ability to schedule appointments under the new guidelines will be limited to certain nationalities, leaving others with geographic restrictions.
In a statement this Friday, the U.S. government noted that beginning August 23, only Mexican citizens will be able to use the CBP One app from any part of their country. Non-Mexican migrants, including Cubans, will be able to make appointments from Chiapas and Tabasco, areas where it was previously not allowed to start the process. They can also continue to make appointments from the northern and central regions of Mexico, as was traditionally permitted.
Journalist Mario J. Pentón commented that this change is especially positive for Cubans in Tapachula, a city in Chiapas. Now they can request appointments without facing the risks of traveling to northern Mexico and the border areas.
This extension of CBP One to southern states is both an opportunity and a challenge, as there will be a higher number of potential applicants in those Mexican states. The competition for appointments will be more intense, potentially extending wait times.
Additionally, Cubans who manage to enter the United States through CBP One must prepare for a complex immigration process. They will face a thorough review by the DHS, which is crucial for later regularizing their status and obtaining permanent residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act.
The number of available appointments remains limited, with only 1,450 daily slots for all migrants in Mexico, including Cubans, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, and Haitians.
"In July, CBP processed over 38,000 people with appointments at ports of entry using advanced information submitted through CBP One™," the statement noted. It also detailed that "since the appointment scheduling feature was introduced in CBP One™ in January 2023 until the end of July 2024, more than 765,000 people have successfully scheduled appointments to present themselves at ports of entry instead of risking their lives at the hands of smugglers."
The U.S. government specified that the main nationalities processed with these appointments are Venezuelan, Cuban, Mexican, and Haitian.
Initially, the CBP One app allowed migrants to request an appointment at the U.S. border with a CBP officer only if their phone's geolocator placed them in central or northern Mexico. Applicants had to be physically north of Mexico City to access the service.
Chiapas is a key area as it borders Guatemala and Belize, serving as the primary entry point for migrants traveling through Central America on their way to the United States. The recent expansion of CBP One aims to facilitate the asylum application process and reduce the risks associated with the dangerous journeys from southern to northern Mexico.
Key Questions on CBP One Expansion for Migrants in Mexico
With the recent changes to the CBP One app, many migrants and their advocates have questions about the new procedures and limitations. Here we address some of the most common inquiries.
Who can use the CBP One app from anywhere in Mexico?
Starting August 23, 2024, only Mexican citizens can use the CBP One app from any part of Mexico.
Where can non-Mexican migrants schedule appointments using CBP One?
Non-Mexican migrants, including Cubans, can schedule appointments from Chiapas, Tabasco, and the northern and central regions of Mexico.
What challenges do migrants face with the expanded CBP One app?
The main challenges include increased competition for appointments and potentially longer wait times due to the higher number of applicants in southern states.