Key Takeaways:

• DHS has revoked legal status for migrants who entered via the CBP One app.
• Over 900,000 migrants were admitted under this program since January 2023.
• Notices for self-deportation have been sent, but exact numbers remain unclear.

MCALLEN, Texas — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Monday that it is revoking the legal status of migrants who were temporarily allowed to reside in the United States using the Biden-era CBP One app. Officials stated that beneficiaries impacted by this decision have been instructed to leave the country “immediately.” It remains uncertain how many individuals will be affected by this revocation.

Since the introduction of the CBP One app in January 2023, more than 900,000 people gained entry into the U.S. under the parole system, which allows temporary residency and work authorization for specified periods. In response to criticisms, DHS media releases stated, “Canceling these paroles is a promise kept to the American people to secure our borders and protect national security.”

Termination notices have been distributed to those using the app, now renamed CBP Home, instructing them to voluntarily self-deport. One family from Honduras, who arrived in the U.S. at the end of the previous year, received an email stating, “It’s time for you to abandon the United States.” This sentiment has been echoed by others sharing similar messages on social media.

The nonprofit organization Al Otro Lado, which provides legal assistance to migrants, indicated that individuals receiving revocation letters hail from various Central American countries, including Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico.

The introduction of the CBP One app was central to President Biden's immigration strategy, aiming to create avenues for legal entry to deter illegal border crossings. However, under the Trump administration, the app was discontinued for new applicants, leaving many stranded.

Recently, DHS has also rescinded a different form of parole for over 532,000 individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, further complicating the immigration landscape. The agency has noted that Biden's usage of parole authority has significantly contributed to what they describe as “the worst border crisis in U.S. history.”

The changing immigration policies showcase a tumultuous landscape, with evasive and often inconsistent measures affecting vulnerable migrant populations. For more detailed information, please refer to the CBS, LA Times, and India Times.