Illegal border crossings have drastically fallen. Is CBP One app doing its job?

Last updated on September 18th, 2024 at 08:02 am

Immigration and border security remain among the top issues for voters as the US presidential election approaches. Donald Trump has made these topics a cornerstone of his campaign, pinning blame on Kamala Harris over the handling of the US southern border.

US officials on Monday highlighted another month of reduced border crossings, citing recent executive action limiting asylum access at the US-Mexico border. The number of people illegally crossing the border over the last couple of months has drastically fallen.

CBP One app continues to enforce the Securing the Border interim final rule and deliver strong consequences for illegal entry, the acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection said. But eligible migrants can still apply through the app to legally enter the US.

Trump describes CBP One as “Kamala phone app for smuggling illegals”

During his first rally after the recent debate involving Kamala Harris, Donald Trump reiterated his focus on executing large-scale deportations of migrants, beginning in Ohio and Colorado, if elected in the November presidential election.

On Sunday, before his second attempted assassination, the Republican candidate promised to terminate the CBP One app, describing it as the “Kamala phone app for smuggling illegals”. He released the statement in a post on his Truth Social account and X account.

Besides members of the Republican party, numerous humanitarian groups have also raised concerns over the app being possibly used by cartels to target migrants. The system has a huge backlog, forcing many migrants to stay long at the border, exposing them to risks.