David Melgar and his family stood patiently on the Paso del Norte International Bridge in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, enduring the cold December morning. They had been waiting since 3 a.m., hoping for a chance to cross into the United States. Accompanied by their 8-year-old son, the family had fled Honduras two months earlier after being threatened by extortionists. For them, this moment represented the possibility of a safer and better future.
Their journey brought them to rely on the CBP One app, a tool introduced in January 2023 by the Biden administration. The app has been used to schedule nearly 900,000 asylum appointments at U.S. ports of entry. While these appointments do not guarantee legal status, they give migrants the opportunity to apply for work permits while waiting for asylum hearings. For Melgar, this process is a beacon of hope, especially as he dreams of providing his son with a good education in the United States.
After hours of standing in the cold, the family was finally allowed to cross into El Paso, Texas. This marked their first step on U.S. soil, a moment filled with relief and anticipation. From there, they boarded a bus to New York, where they planned to reunite with relatives. Melgar felt fortunate to have secured an appointment through the app, as many migrants report waiting for months to get a chance.
But the future of the CBP One app is uncertain. President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to eliminate the app, arguing that it encourages illegal migration. However, many experts disagree with this claim, pointing out that the app was designed to streamline border processes and ensure migrants are treated humanely. Its removal could leave thousands of migrants in limbo, forcing them to seek riskier ways to cross the border.
For some, the wait for an appointment has been agonizingly long. Zoila Velasco, a Salvadoran woman with U.S. citizen family members, waited 10 months to secure her appointment. During that time, she considered crossing the border illegally but ultimately decided to trust the app’s process. When her turn finally came, she felt a deep sense of relief and hope for reuniting with her loved ones.
Others are still waiting, growing more anxious with each passing day. Venezuelan couple Ricardo Bravo and Bárbara Mendoza have been trying to secure an appointment since June. With young children, including a newborn daughter, they are running out of options. Bravo admitted that if the app is discontinued, he might feel forced to cross the border without an appointment, depending on the situation in January.
What will happen to the thousands of migrants relying on the CBP One app?
For families like the Melgars, it has provided a structured and safe way to seek asylum. But if the app is eliminated, many fear they will have no choice but to take dangerous risks. The uncertainty adds to the struggles of migrants who are already facing countless challenges in their pursuit of a better life.