Migrants in U.S. Can Now Self-Deport via App

Migrants in U.S. Can Now Self-Deport via App \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Trump administration unveiled a revamped immigration app on Monday, now called CBP Home, which allows undocumented immigrants in the U.S. to self-report for voluntary deportation. The app replaces CBP One, which previously let migrants apply for asylum. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and CBP officials say the app is part of Trump’s broader push to deport millions. Critics argue that it instills fear among immigrant communities and may serve as a public relations tool rather than an effective policy measure.

CBP Home App and Self-Deportation Quick Looks

• CBP Home App Launched: Allows undocumented immigrants to request voluntary departure.
• Asylum Requests Removed: The previous app, CBP One, was shut down, canceling thousands of border appointments.
• Trump’s Self-Deportation Strategy: Officials encourage migrants to leave voluntarily before facing forced deportation.
• DHS Warning: Kristi Noem says those who don’t leave will be found, deported, and banned from returning.
• Expert Concerns: Analysts say the app could be part of a campaign to pressure immigrants into leaving.
• Historic Parallels: Critics draw comparisons to past mass deportation efforts, including the 1950s crackdown praised by Trump.

Deep Look

CBP Home: From Asylum Applications to Self-Deportation Requests

The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown took another step forward Monday with the launch of CBP Home, a revamped government app that allows undocumented immigrants to voluntarily leave the U.S.

CBP Home replaces CBP One, an app that previously allowed migrants to schedule asylum appointments at the border. However, within hours of Trump taking office, CBP One was shut down, and tens of thousands of pending asylum requests were canceled.

Now, the app’s only function is to facilitate voluntary deportation—a move the administration is framing as an “easy, cost-effective” way to encourage self-removal.

“The app provides illegal aliens in the United States with a straightforward way to declare their intent to voluntarily depart, offering them the chance to leave before facing harsher consequences,” said Pete Flores, acting commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The app is part of Trump’s broader push to deport millions of immigrants living in the U.S. without legal status, a campaign that has gained momentum since his return to the White House in 2025.

Kristi Noem: Leave Now or Face Permanent Ban

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took to X (formerly Twitter) to emphasize the administration’s approach:

“The CBP Home app gives aliens the option to leave now and self-deport, so they may still have the opportunity to return legally in the future and live the American dream. If they don’t, we will find them, we will deport them, and they will never return.”

Her statement underscores the administration’s harsh stance on undocumented immigrants, signaling that those who fail to leave voluntarily could face permanent bans from re-entering the U.S.

While voluntary departure has long been a legal option for immigrants, experts say the app’s rollout is designed to create a culture of fear, forcing many to preemptively leave before facing arrest or detention.

Mass Deportation Efforts Escalate Under Trump

The CBP Home app is just one piece of Trump’s broader immigration enforcement strategy, which has already included:

• High-profile ICE arrests targeting workplaces and immigrant communities.
• Expansion of detention facilities, including the use of Guantanamo Bay for immigrant detentions.
• Mass deportation flights, some of which have returned immigrants to countries where they fear persecution.

These efforts have already had widespread effects, with reports of migrants choosing to leave the U.S. even before Trump’s official inauguration—though the exact numbers remain unclear.

A Political Move or a Practical Solution? Experts Weigh In

While Trump officials tout CBP Home as a convenient tool, immigration analysts are skeptical about whether it will be widely used.

“I’m not sure what their intentions are,” said Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, an associate policy analyst with the Migration Policy Institute. “But they’re creating a bit of a culture of fear around immigration right now.”

She points to recent high-profile ICE raids and the detention of immigrants at Guantanamo Bay, arguing that the app may be more about political messaging than a real immigration solution.

“The app could be part of a targeted public relations campaign to encourage voluntary departures rather than an effective tool for managing immigration,” she added.

Historic Parallels: Trump Praises 1950s Mass Deportations

Trump’s focus on self-deportation echoes past U.S. immigration crackdowns, particularly a 1950s operation that he has repeatedly praised.

• “Operation Wetback” (1954) – A controversial government effort that resulted in the mass deportation of hundreds of thousands of Mexican immigrants.
• Widespread fear led to voluntary departures – Some estimates suggest thousands of legally residing immigrants also left due to intimidation tactics.

Trump’s recent rhetoric has drawn direct comparisons to that era, leading to concerns that history may be repeating itself under a new administration.

What’s Next? The Future of Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

With millions of undocumented immigrants still in the U.S., the launch of CBP Home is likely just the beginning of a broader effort to expand deportations.

Key Questions Moving Forward:

1. Will undocumented immigrants actually use CBP Home?
   • Many fear government tracking, making them unlikely to self-report their location.
2. How will this impact asylum seekers who were previously using CBP One?
   • With asylum appointments canceled, many have been left in limbo with no legal options.
3. Could this lead to unintended consequences?
   • Similar past policies have led to the deportation of legally residing immigrants due to panic and misinformation.

For now, the Biden-era CBP One system is officially gone, and Trump’s new immigration crackdown is in full force.

Whether CBP Home becomes a widely used tool or merely a political message remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: the immigration debate in America has just entered a new chapter.

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