Immigrants seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border can now use a cell phone app to schedule a time to approach a land entry point, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed Thursday. but that raised privacy and access concerns.
The app, called CBP One, is available in English and Spanish and will allow migrants in central and northern Mexico to submit biographical information and a photo and request to meet at one of eight border crossing points in Texas, Arizona and California, according to con an informative.
The US government had announced it would expand the use of CBP One, giving asylum seekers direct access to enter their information as a pre-screening step before an appointment. Launched in 2020, the app has already been used to allow people legally crossing land-based ports of entry to submit their information in advance and for non-governmental organizations to request humanitarian entry for certain migrants.
US President Joe Biden’s administration sees the app as a more regulated and potentially faster alternative to crossing the border. But advocates fear asylum seekers will be forced to provide personal information without granting entry and that some may not have access to a mobile phone or the internet.
The app’s launch comes after Biden announced last week that his administration would expand restrictions under Covid-era “Title 42” to quickly expel Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans crossing the border into Mexico, while opening up legal pathways for those. who have US sponsors and enter by plane.
Biden, a Democrat seeking reelection in 2024, has been criticized by Republicans for what they see as lax border policies amid record crossings.
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Source: Terra
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
