In a significant policy shift, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has announced the termination of the CBP One app’s use for allowing migrants to board domestic flights, except for those who are self-deporting.
This decision marks a departure from the Biden administration’s approach, which had expanded the app’s use to facilitate travel for migrants, including those without traditional forms of identification.
“Secretary Noem is reversing the horrendous Biden-Era policy that allowed aliens in our country illegally to jet around our country and do so without identification,” a DHS spokesperson exclusively told Fox News Digital.
The CBP One app was initially introduced to streamline the process of identity verification for migrants, using photographs and biometric matching. It allowed migrants paroled or released into the U.S. pending immigration processing to board flights without a TSA-accepted form of ID. However, under the new directive, only migrants with such identification or those self-deporting will be permitted to fly.
This policy change is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reverse several Biden-era immigration policies. The administration has been actively working to limit immigration, including suspending refugee resettlement and parole programs. The decision to restrict the CBP One app’s use aligns with these efforts, reflecting a more stringent approach to immigration control.
The app will continue to be used for self-deportation processes, allowing migrants who choose to leave the U.S. voluntarily to board flights out of the country.
The policy reversal has sparked discussions about its implications for migrants and the broader immigration system. Critics argue that the change could complicate migrants’ travel and potentially lead to increased challenges in managing immigration processes. Supporters, however, view it as a necessary step to ensure security and uphold immigration laws.
This development is part of a series of recent policy reversals, including the extension of Temporary Protected Status for certain nationalities and the deputization of State Department officials as immigration officers.