First “Migrants” Enter U.S. From Mexico Using Mobile App

CIUDAD JUAREZ/MEXICO CITY – Migrants on Mexico’s northern border on Wednesday began entering the United States using a mobile app designed to facilitate the process of applying for asylum, although several quickly reported difficulties in using the system.

Biden’s administration stated this month it will increase the use of CBP One to allow asylum-seekers to enter their personal data as a prescreening step to a U.S. request for asylum.

“I’m really excited, I can’t wait to see my family,” Alejandra, an illegitimate Venezuelan migrant, entered El Paso from Ciudad Juarez and headed for Florida.

Giovanny Castlelanos, another Venezuelan waiting at the Mexican border to enter the United States for months, stated that he was quickly granted an appointment.

Castellanos, speaking as he was standing in line to enter Laredo Texas from Nuevo Laredo Mexico, advised migrants not to take risks and to use an app instead.

The app was activated last week for pre-screening. It has been so popular that the app is now telling applicants that there are no appointments. According to Mexican officials and a dozen migrants who shared screenshots of their phones with Reuters,

Migrants must first go to the border crossing in Mexico designated by the app to receive an appointment with the U.S. Reuters heard from some migrants that the app had no appointments close to their current location.

Jose Huerta from Venezuela, a migrant crossing the border in Ciudad Juarez said to Reuters that the app suggested he could cross the border from Tijuana (746 miles to his west) opposite San Diego.

“I don’t have money, now I have to walk,” He said.

Some migrant advocacy groups believe that more asylum seekers should be able to travel between border cities to avoid danger.

“They need to increase the number of appointments per day, we’re confident this will be the case,” Enrique Lucero is the director of Tijuana’s migration affairs.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection didn’t immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment about the app.