Trump Closes Border and Terminates CBP One App
The administration ended asylum appointment processing and shuttered the mobile application to prevent border crossings.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Immigration
Live Poll
Should the federal government prioritize strict border security over maintaining humanitarian asylum pathways?
President Donald Trump has closed the U.S. southern border to asylum seekers and terminated the CBP One mobile application used to schedule appointments. The policy shift aims to halt illegal border entries by removing established pathways for entry.
Why it matters
The administration implemented this anti-immigration policy to strictly prevent illegal border crossings. By eliminating the appointment system, the government has fundamentally altered the trajectory for thousands of migrants currently waiting for processing.
As of January 2025, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection app held 270,000 open cases. During that same year, Mexico received 70,500 asylum applications as migrant flows shifted away from the U.S. border.
The players
Donald Trump
President Donald Trump is the current President of the United States who authorized the closure of the southern border.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
The agency is the federal law enforcement body responsible for regulating and facilitating international trade and enforcing U.S. immigration laws.
The details
Following the termination of the CBP One app, migrants are increasingly settling in Mexican border cities like Tijuana and Tapachula rather than attempting to reach the United States. A 2025 survey by a UN migration agency found that 45 percent of interviewed migrants chose to remain in Mexico after failing to secure U.S. asylum appointments.
Timeline
Between 2020 and 2025, Tijuana received approximately 25,000 foreign migrants.
In January 2025, the CBP One mobile application held 270,000 open cases.
Mexico received 70,500 asylum applications throughout 2025.
The U.S. midterm legislative elections take place in November 2026.
Political Context
Opponents and advocacy groups argue that the closure of the CBP One asylum appointment mobile application forces migrants into dangerous situations and ignores the humanitarian requirements of international asylum law. Critics maintain that this policy ignores the root causes of migration while failing to provide any legal alternative for those fleeing persecution.
These border policy changes mean that individuals currently seeking asylum face new regulatory barriers and potential long-term settlement in Mexico. Taxpayers may see shifts in local border funding as the government focuses on enforcement rather than application processing.
The takeaway
The closure of the CBP One application signals a significant shift toward restrictive border management that prioritizes physical deterrence over digital intake systems. Migrants navigating these changes should be aware that the primary pathway for legal U.S. entry via this app is no longer available.
What happens next
The Trump administration plans to feature the closed southern border as a central issue during the upcoming November 2026 midterm legislative elections.
Further reading
For more context on international migration policy, visit the Immigration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WFMZ.
Live Poll
Should the federal government prioritize strict border security over maintaining humanitarian asylum pathways?
