How Is The CBP One App Being Used For Immigration?

CBP One™ is a mobile application that provides access to a variety of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) services. Released in 2020, according to the American Immigration Council (AIC), the CBP One app:

“allows individuals granted humanitarian parole through country-specific parole programs to complete a pre-screening process prior to entry at an airport. CBP One gives travelers the ability to access information related to their Form I-94”

According to the Washington Post, the app has been “plagued with glitches that disadvantage the most desperate migrants.”

While the stated goal of Customs and Border Protection is to streamline processing for everyone, including U.S. citizens, opponents and proponents seem to agree that they have not been forthcoming about the technology and use of the app. As of January, the CBP One app was planned to become the mainstream for seeking Title 42 exemptions at the U.S.-Mexico border. However, immigration advocates say CBP has made very few appointments available.

Concerns About CBP One

Immigration advocates, including AIC, have expressed concerns about the use of the CBP One app for immigration:

• Privacy
  The app’s technology has demonstrated some problems with its facial recognition technology and its ability to surveil individuals, resulting in unequal treatment of minorities. “The app’s facial recognition requirements appear to be disadvantaging darker-skinned asylum seekers,” according to an article by AP News.
• The requirement to use
  While DHS has said that the use of the app is optional, CBP appears to be treating the use of the app as a requirement, according to AIC.
• Lack of Transparency About Future Uses
  CBP does not provide information on plans for future usage of the app for non-citizens, migrants or citizens, how the data will be used, and the potential risks.

We Help Immigrants Make America Their Home

I’m Mario Godoy. I’m an immigrant, a citizen and an immigration lawyer. I saw what happened to my family, and that’s why I became an immigration lawyer.

Please call Godoy Law Office immigration lawyers at 630-912-0322. Or reach out to us online today to schedule your initial consultation.

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