Trump cancels all asylum appointments, leaving applicants hopeless after months of waiting
On Jan. 20, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States in the Capitol Rotunda. Following his inauguration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced on social media that all immigration appointments for asylum applications into the U.S. would be canceled.
The related mobile app, CBP One, ceased operation at midnight Eastern time on Jan. 20. CBP One was a crucial tool for immigrants to submit information and schedule asylum requests at eight ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border, serving as a key pathway for asylum seekers to enter the U.S. legally during President Biden's administration.
According to the Washington Post, some immigrant families waiting in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, arrived at the border early on Jan. 20 to file their asylum applications in El Paso, Texas. However, after the inauguration ceremony, they found that their existing appointments were no longer valid when they logged into the app.
Earlier reports indicated that Trump plans to reinstate the "Remain in Mexico" program, which would require undocumented immigrants seeking asylum in the U.S. to wait in northern Mexico while U.S. courts review their cases.
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