A 48-year-old Colombian migrant, Margelis Tinoco, was seen crying at the Paso del Norte international bridge in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, after her CBP One appointment was canceled on January 20, 2025. This took place on the same day President Donald Trump was inaugurated. The cancellation left her devastated as she hoped for a chance to enter the U.S. AP Photo
A hopeful journey for many migrants seeking a new life in the United States came to an abrupt halt when the U.S. government canceled thousands of appointments for asylum seekers, shortly after President Donald Trump took office. These appointments had been secured through the CBP One app, which had been a lifeline for migrants from countries like Haiti, Venezuela, and Cuba.
For months, migrants had been preparing to legally enter the U.S., many carrying small rolling suitcases filled with their belongings and comfort items for their children. They clutched their phones, eagerly awaiting their appointments to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. But on January 20, 2025, everything changed. With a single announcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) declared that the CBP One app would no longer be used, and any appointments scheduled for February or beyond were canceled.
The news was devastating for the tens of thousands of people who had been relying on the app to secure their place in line. Applicants had no recourse to appeal and were left to wonder what would happen next. In Tijuana, Mexico, where hundreds of people had gathered to cross into the U.S. through San Diego, emotions ran high. Maria Mercado, a migrant from Colombia who had fled violence and cartel threats in her home country, was overcome with despair when she learned that her family's appointment had been canceled. She had traveled for months, from Colombia to Ecuador, then to Mexico, hoping to start anew in the U.S.
“We don’t know what we are going to do,” Maria said, her voice trembling as she gazed across the border. “I’m not asking the world for anything — only God. I’m asking God to please let us get in.”
Similar scenes unfolded across other border towns, including Matamoros, Ciudad Juarez, and El Paso. Jairol Polo, a Cuban migrant who had flown from Mexico City to reach the Matamoros crossing, was also informed that his appointment had been canceled. Like many others, he felt disheartened and uncertain about the future.
The CBP One app, launched in January 2023, had allowed up to 1,450 migrants per day to secure appointments to enter the U.S. legally. The program was particularly popular among Venezuelans, Haitians, Cubans, and Mexicans, offering a rare path to legal entry amid the chaos of illegal border crossings. However, the app’s demise marked a significant shift in U.S. border policy, one that critics argue could push more migrants to cross the border illegally.
The end of CBP One also signals the return of the "Remain in Mexico" policy, which forces asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for U.S. court hearings. Critics argue that this could discourage legal immigration and lead to a rise in illegal border crossings.
The shutdown of CBP One left many in a state of disbelief. Juan Andrés Rincón Ramos, a 19-year-old Venezuelan who had recently secured an appointment after five years in Peru and seven months in Mexico, was heartbroken when he learned that his appointment had been canceled. “It was a moment of hope, but it didn’t last,” he said, reflecting the dashed hopes of countless others who were counting on the app to start their new lives.
As the uncertainty grows, migrants now face an even more difficult journey, uncertain of how or when they will be able to legally enter the United States.
