Biden admin increases number of migrants allowed into US via CBP One app

US Customs and Border Protection is once again expanding the number of migrants it will allow into the US at the border with Mexico through the CBP One mobile app.

The federal agency said it will now allow 1,450 migrants to book appointments each day through the app, which will allow migrants to register asylum applications and enter the US.

Asylum seekers who show up at the border without having made an appointment are subject to a ‘common sense condition’ and are likely to be rejected.

On May 12 — the day Title 42 restrictions ended — CBP began processing 1,000 appointments per day and in June increased that number to 1,250.

Title 42 was a Covid-era policy introduced in 2020 by then-President Donald Trump that allowed authorities to turn asylum seekers away from the border because they could bring the disease into the county.

Between the due date of May 12 and June 23, more than 49,000 migrants have applied for asylum in southwestern border ports, according to CBP.

A migrant from Venezuela seeking asylum in the US uses his phone to book an appointment through the CBP One app

In addition to limiting the number of claims that can be filed, the app allows CBP officers to receive advance information for screening and vetting and to determine eligibility on a case-by-case basis.

The demand for appointments is massively oversubscribed. One day in May The New York Times reported that about 62,000 migrants — mostly from Cuba, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico and Venezuela — were competing for the 1,000 nominations.

“CBP is expanding the number of appointments available at ports of entry for the second time in less than two months, through scheduling improvements and operational efficiencies,” Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller said in a statement.

“Using innovative technologies such as CBP One, we improve the execution of our homeland security mission and ensure safe and efficient processes at ports of entry.”

Appointments are available in eight ports of entry: Brownsville, Paso Del Norte in El Paso, Eagle Pass, Hidalgo, and Laredo in Texas; Calexico and San Ysidro in California; and Nogales in Arizona.

The controversial app has caused a stir left and right.

Between the expiration of Title 42 on May 12 and June 23, more than 49,000 migrants reported to southwestern border ports to seek asylum, according to CBP. Pictured are migrants in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on May 23

A Venezuelan migrant is depicted trying to seek asylum in the United States using the CBP One application. Her husband traveled to another point of entry to attend his immigration appointment. Appointments are available at eight gateways

Many migrants have complained that the app is glitchy and difficult to use, while others argue that it is unfair to require an app to apply for asylum as it requires a smartphone.

In theory, it works by allowing migrants to book an appointment at any time during a 23-hour period. If successful, they have another 23 hours to accept the appointment.

CBP claims it randomly assigned the “majority” of those appointments to those who submitted requests, while giving the rest to those who have the oldest accounts and have waited the longest for appointments.

The Biden administration claims the app is an important step in streamlining border operations, as it prevents migrants from applying for asylum if they crossed illegally, did not use the app, and did not apply for asylum in another country they previously traveled through .