What is CBP One? CBP One is a mobile app developed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to streamline interactions between travelers and CBP officers at ports of entry. Launched on October 28, 2020, it started as a tool for commercial trucking companies to schedule cargo inspections. Over time, its functionality expanded to include asylum processing, travel authorizations, and more. By May 2023, it became the only way to request asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. Despite its benefits, the app has faced criticism for requiring internet access, limited language options, and privacy concerns. Is CBP One the future of border processing? Let's find out.
Key Takeaways:
- CBP One is a mobile app by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for travelers and cargo carriers. It helps with asylum processing, appointment scheduling, and verification, but faces legal and privacy concerns.
- The app has evolved since its launch in 2020, expanding to manage asylum requests and migrant protection protocols. It uses advanced technology for biometric verification and appointment scheduling, but has faced criticism for its impact on certain demographics.
What is CBP One?
CBP One is a mobile app developed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to streamline interactions between travelers and CBP officers at ports of entry. It has evolved significantly since its launch, incorporating various functionalities to manage cargo inspections, asylum processing, and travel authorizations.
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Launch Date: CBP One was launched on October 28, 2020, primarily to help commercial trucking companies schedule cargo inspections.
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Initial Functionality: Initially, the app provided travelers with access to Form I-94 information and allowed cargo carriers to schedule inspection appointments for perishable items.
Expansion and Asylum Processing
The app's functionalities have expanded over time, especially in the context of asylum processing and managing unauthorized migrants.
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Expansion of Functions: In January 2023, CBP One's functionality was expanded to include unauthorized migrants seeking protection from violence, poverty, or persecution.
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Asylum Processing: By May 2023, CBP One became the only path to request asylum on the U.S.-Mexico border and book asylum appointments.
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Mandatory Platform: The app has become the mandated platform for migrants at the Mexico–United States border to schedule appointments for asylum processing at ports of entry.
Legal and Humanitarian Issues
The app has faced legal challenges and criticism from humanitarian organizations.
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Class Action Lawsuit: A class action lawsuit was filed against the US government by humanitarian organizations and those affected by the app, arguing that the need for internet access and a smartphone, as well as limited language options, made it harder to file for asylum.
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Amnesty International Critique: In a 2024 report, Amnesty International described the app's selection process as a "lottery," with some migrants waiting for a year for an appointment.
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Personal Information Collection: The collection of personal information through CBP One was criticized by Amnesty International, who noted that facial recognition systems were unreliable for some demographics and had a potential for dissemination.
Technical and Functional Details
The app includes various technical features to ensure proper functioning and security.
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Geographical Restrictions: CBP One requires migrants to be located in central and northern Mexico for functionality, verifying a user's location and blocking attempts to make appointments from outside authorized regions.
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Language Support: The app is available on Android and iOS in five languages: English, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole.
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Cargo Inspection Scheduling: Cargo carriers use CBP One to schedule appointments for the inspection of perishable items, ensuring timely and efficient processing.
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Traveler Verification: International travelers use CBP One to apply for and view current arrival/departure I-94 forms, facilitating smoother travel processes.
Migrant Protection Protocols and Undocumented Individuals
The app also plays a role in managing migrant protection protocols and undocumented individuals.
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Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP): Previously, international organizations used CBP One to verify the enrollment of individuals in MPP, a policy that stranded people in Mexico as they awaited U.S. immigration court hearings.
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Undocumented Individuals: In January 2023, the Biden Administration announced a new function of CBP One that allows undocumented individuals to schedule appointments with immigration officials before their arrival at certain southwest border ports of entry.
Biometric and Location Verification
CBP One uses advanced technology to verify user information and location.
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Biographic and Biometric Information: Users can submit advance biographic and biometric information to CBP, including name, date of birth, nationality, etc., which is information that CBP would otherwise collect during primary and/or secondary inspection at a port of entry.
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GPS Verification: The app accesses users’ phones’ global positioning system (GPS) location to ensure that individuals are in CBP-defined proximity to the U.S. border when submitting their information.
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Photograph Submission: Users must submit a photograph of the individual whose information is captured in the app for a “liveness check,” which ensures that the photograph is of a real person and not a picture of someone else.
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Facial Recognition Technology: Although CBP One does not currently utilize facial recognition technology for the photograph submission process, it does use the Traveler Verification Service (TVS) to biometrically verify travelers’ identities at ports of entry. TVS utilizes facial recognition technology to compare a traveler’s live photograph to a gallery of preexisting photographs maintained by CBP.
Title 42 and Post-Title 42 Processing
The app has adapted to changes in public health policies and immigration laws.
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Title 42 Exemptions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention instituted a public health policy (Title 42) that allowed immigration officials to restrict entry into the United States of foreign nationals lacking proper travel documents. CBP One provided a means for vulnerable individuals to schedule appointments with immigration officials, requiring them to attest to a qualifying vulnerability.
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Post-Title 42 Processing: After the federal COVID-19 public health emergency declaration ended on May 11, 2023, the Biden Administration shifted back to processing all individuals under Title 8 of the U.S. Code. Post-Title 42, CBP One functionality for undocumented individuals booking appointments remained virtually unchanged, except that individuals no longer needed to attest to a qualifying vulnerability to schedule appointments.
Appointment Scheduling and Notifications
The app uses a semi-random selection process to manage appointment scheduling.
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Scheduling Appointments: Users can request an appointment by logging into CBP One between 11 a.m. and 10 a.m. the following day. Those who request appointments during this time period are placed in a pool of registrations, and CBP uses a semi-random selection process to choose the registrants who will receive the limited number of daily appointments. A percentage of the available appointments are reserved for people with the earliest registered CBP One profiles to prioritize individuals who have been waiting the longest for appointments.
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Appointment Notification: Users selected by the algorithm for appointments are notified via CBP One and have a 23-hour window to accept the appointment. Individuals who are not selected to receive an appointment must go through the same process the following day.
Humanitarian Parole and TSA Verification
CBP One also facilitates humanitarian parole and TSA verification processes.
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Humanitarian Parole: CBP One allows individuals granted humanitarian parole through country-specific parole programs to complete a pre-screening process prior to entry at an airport. This process involves submitting biographic and biometric information, as well as a photograph for verification purposes.
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TSA Verification: Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers can use CBP One to verify certain travelers’ identities. This involves taking a photo of the individual to match their contemporaneous photo with those in the existing CBP galleries, or using biographic information if the individual declines to be photographed.
Privacy Concerns and Login.gov Integration
The app's use of personal information and integration with Login.gov has raised privacy concerns.
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Privacy Concerns: The app's use of personal information and facial recognition technology has raised significant privacy concerns. The DHS Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) details the app's uses but is not easily accessible to the public. Additionally, the PIA is not regularly updated, which adds to the transparency issues.
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Login.gov Integration: Users must create an account at Login.gov—a website that allows users access to participating government agencies—to use CBP One. This process requires providing an email address, creating a password, and sometimes entering a phone number.
Asylum Interview Process and Disproportionate Impact
The app's role in the asylum interview process and its impact on certain demographics.
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Asylum Interview Process: The asylum interview is not directly scheduled on CBP One. Instead, those who have a CBP One appointment at a port of entry undergo national security and public safety checks. If they pass, they are admitted into the U.S. with parole and issued a Notice to Appear (NTA). CBP notes that the agency “does not adjudicate asylum claims,” but rather starts the process where the individual can make their claim for asylum protections.
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Disproportionate Impact: Widespread reports have indicated that the facial recognition feature disproportionately fails to work for individuals with darker complexions, a problem that has adversely affected African and Haitian asylum seekers.
Public Resources and Information
CBP has made efforts to provide public resources and information about the app.
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Public-Facing Webpage: CBP created a public-facing webpage for the app, which lists CBP One’s functions and provides information for asylum seekers using the app to schedule appointments at ports of entry. The webpage includes a link to the DHS Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) about the app.
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Resources Directory: The American Immigration Council has published a fact sheet and resources directory about CBP One, providing information and useful links about the app’s key features, its significance for asylum seekers, and its shortcomings.
Final Thoughts on CBP One
CBP One has transformed how travelers and migrants interact with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Launched in 2020, it began as a tool for cargo inspections but now handles everything from asylum requests to travel authorizations. While it streamlines processes, it’s not without flaws. Criticisms include limited language options, privacy concerns, and issues with facial recognition technology. Despite these challenges, CBP One remains a vital platform for those seeking entry into the U.S. Its evolution shows a commitment to improving border management, though continuous updates and transparency are essential. As it stands, CBP One is a significant step forward in modernizing border procedures, but there’s room for growth. Understanding its features and limitations can help users navigate the system more effectively.
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