Donald Trump administration has rebranded a mobile app initially designed for asylum appointments into a tool, facilitating the voluntary departure of undocumented migrants from the United States.
The app, now called CBP Home, allows migrants to submit an “intent to depart” form, helping them leave the country without facing harsher immigration penalties. According to BBC News, the U.S. government aims to encourage voluntary self-deportation rather than enforcing mass arrests and deportations.
Originally launched in 2020 as CBP One, the app was later expanded under the Biden administration to assist migrants in scheduling asylum appointments at U.S. entry points. At the time, officials viewed it as a means to reduce border detentions and promote safer migration routes.
However, the Trump administration has repurposed the platform, enabling migrants to declare their intention to leave the U.S. voluntarily. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) believes this initiative will streamline the deportation process and reduce the burden on immigration enforcement agencies.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that migrants who self-deport through the app would have the chance to return legally in the future. However, she warned that those who fail to comply would face forced deportation and a lifetime ban on reentry. “If they don’t self-deport, we will find them, deport them, and they will never be able to return,” Noem emphasized. Additionally, the app requires migrants to confirm if they have sufficient funds for departure and a valid passport from their home country.
The CBP Home app also offers features such as applying for and paying for I-94 entry and exit cards, booking inspections for perishable cargo, and checking border wait times. The app’s rebranding aligns with broader immigration policy shifts under the Trump administration, including a crackdown on parole programs and increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.
The government has also proposed a national registry for undocumented migrants, requiring individuals aged 14 and older to provide their address and fingerprints. However, experts have raised concerns over the feasibility of such a system, citing logistical and enforcement challenges.