Migrants are processed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at the Paso Del Norte Bridge after receiving an appointment to seek asylum through the CBP One app in El Paso, Texas, on Nov. 7, 2024.
Washington, D.C. – The Trump administration has begun revoking the legal status of migrants who entered the United States using the Biden-era CBP One app, instructing them to leave the country immediately or face arrest and deportation. This policy affects over 900,000 migrants who were granted entry into the U.S. starting in January 2023 through the app, which allowed them to secure appointments at the southern border and receive a two-year parole status with work authorization.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that notices of parole termination have been issued, urging individuals to self-deport using the same app, which has since been renamed CBP Home. The DHS emphasized that those who do not voluntarily leave will face potential removal, with the government pledging to find and deport individuals who do not comply. Affected migrants, many from Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico, received emails from DHS advising them to “abandon the United States.”
The CBP One app was central to President Biden’s strategy of creating legal pathways for migrants to enter the country and reducing illegal crossings. Migrants using the app were typically allowed to stay in the U.S. for two years with the opportunity to apply for asylum. However, under the Trump administration’s new directive, this process has been reversed, with migrants now facing the loss of their legal status.
A letter from DHS, reviewed by CBS News, notified one Honduran family that their parole status was revoked and urged them to leave immediately. These actions reflect the broader shift in immigration policy under the Trump administration, which has been dismantling Biden-era initiatives, including those related to parole and Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
In addition to the CBP One changes, the Trump administration is also ending the parole status for hundreds of thousands of migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who entered the U.S. through a separate sponsorship program. The deadline for these individuals to depart the U.S. is set for April 24. Additionally, the administration is working to end TPS for many Venezuelans, although a federal judge has temporarily halted that decision.
The moves have sparked concerns among migrant advocacy groups, which argue that these policies are being implemented without sufficient notice or support for those affected. With growing uncertainty, many migrants now face the difficult decision of whether to leave voluntarily or risk facing deportation.
