ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Migrants who were granted temporary permission to reside in the United States through the CBP One app under former President Joe Biden have now been instructed to self-deport “immediately,” according to U.S. media reports on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed to AFP that “formal termination notices” had been delivered to certain “illegal aliens,” though no details were provided regarding the selection criteria.
“Formal termination notices have been issued, and affected aliens are urged to voluntarily self-deport using the CBP Home App,” the DHS spokesperson told AFP. “Those who refuse will be found, removed, and permanently barred from reentry.”
Launched in January 2023, the CBP One app allowed migrants to book appointments at specific southwestern U.S. ports of entry.
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The system was a cornerstone of the Biden administration’s humanitarian parole initiative.
According to National Public Radio, the new deportation orders could impact more than 930,000 migrants.
On his first day in office for a second term, President Donald Trump halted further entries through the CBP One app, effectively shutting down a key access point for migrants in Mexico to legally approach U.S. officials at the border and request temporary residence.
Trump, who campaigned heavily on immigration issues, pledged to deport “millions” of undocumented migrants and, during the campaign, referred to some as “animals” and “monsters,” attributing violent crime to their presence in the country.
“Canceling these paroles is a promise kept to the American people to secure our borders and protect national security,” the DHS spokesperson added on Tuesday.
Those whose parole status was revoked were notified via email, with DHS citing its discretionary authority under U.S. law.
This latest move follows the Trump administration’s termination last month of legal status for 532,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, who were given only a few weeks to exit the country.
AFP