An app developed by the U.S. government is severely limiting asylum-seeking at the U.S.-Mexico border, leaving vulnerable migrants stranded in Mexico and empowering organized crime groups, according to a recent report from Human Rights Watch (HRW).
The report reveals how the CBP One app operates, drawing from interviews with over 100 immigrants, officials, and activists. Despite an average of 7,240 daily border arrivals from May 2023 to January 2024, only 1,450 appointments were provided per day, excluding asylum seekers from accessing necessary assistance.
These “digital meters” force asylum seekers to either wait for appointments or rely on human trafficking organizations to cross borders between official entry points.
While the Biden administration claims that the app disrupts smuggling networks, HRW’s observations contradict this narrative. They highlight the app’s installation as increasing vulnerabilities to extortion, kidnapping, and violence for asylum seekers.
The mandatory use of the CBP One app began in May 2023 in anticipation of the removal of Title 42, a pandemic-related entry restriction. Despite the expected surge in border arrivals that never materialized, the app requirement persisted.
Exceptions exist for those facing immediate danger of violence or trafficking, yet HRW found cases where such claims were dismissed, forcing individuals to risk dangerous border crossings.
Tragically, many opt to cross between official entry points, leading to fatalities such as drowning in the Rio Grande or succumbing to dehydration in the Sonoran Desert. CBP data reported 895 border deaths in fiscal year 2022.
Asylum seekers who wait for appointments face prolonged risks of abduction by criminal groups while waiting in Mexico.
HRW researcher Ali Sawyer described a systematic pattern of kidnappings, where individuals are extorted for ransom after being held captive, sometimes with deadly consequences.
Human Rights First has documented 13,480 reported cases of kidnap and violence against immigrants under the Biden administration by December 2022.
Mexican authorities have been implicated in collusion with criminal elements, contributing to the peril faced by migrants. In one case, officials from Matehuara were arrested for involvement in an immigrant kidnapping ring.
Mexico’s role as a de facto U.S. immigration enforcer has led to a surge in migrant detentions, with over 800,000 detained last year. The dangers faced by migrants in Mexico continue to escalate.
Despite the perceived order of the reservation system, CBP One exposes individuals to increased risks and rewards criminal organizations. HRW calls for improved policies from both the U.S. and Mexico to ensure the safety of asylum seekers.
Source: www.theguardian.com
