A wide-ranging series of executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on his first day in office aimed to increase security at the southern border and implement his immigration policy agenda. The orders abolished the use of the CBP One app, which had allowed nearly 1 million people to legally enter the United States with eligibility to work. The app was used to schedule appointments at eight southwest border ports of entry, and its termination effectively ended the right to seek asylum at the border, regardless of the danger faced by migrants, including families with children.
The American Civil Liberties Union, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, and other groups have filed a request for a status conference regarding the Trump administration’s decision to terminate the use of the CBP One app and cancel all current appointments. The organizations claim that the move will affect over 30,000 migrants who had appointments scheduled through the app over the next three weeks.
In addition, Trump’s orders aimed to redefine who can become an American citizen. He plans to end birthright citizenship, suspend the refugee program, force people seeking asylum to wait in Mexico, and end the practice of “catch-and-release” of migrants in the US while they await immigration court hearings.
The orders also intend to designate criminal cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and aim to crack down on the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Trump plans to “end asylum” and reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which forced about 70,000 asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for hearings in US immigration court.
Mexico has expressed a willingness to receive asylum seekers that the US makes wait in Mexico, while emphasizing the need for an online application allowing them to schedule appointments at the US border. Trump’s plans to end birthright citizenship and suspend the refugee program are likely to face legal challenges.
The orders were previewed by a White House official, who said that the Trump administration will focus on using the US military to secure the border and rely on the US Department of Defense to “finish” the construction of the border wall. The official also mentioned that the administration will send troops to the border, but did not provide further details on the number of troops or their role.