Urgent Call for CBP One App Overhaul by Congress Members
Washington, D.C. – In a resounding plea for reform, a collective of 36 members of Congress directed a comprehensive letter to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, spotlighting the urgent need for immediate intervention to resolve the persistent software problems plaguing the CBP One app. This app is pivotal in scheduling appointments for asylum seekers at U.S. ports of entry, a process essential for their pursuit of refuge within the nation's borders.
As of January 2023, the CBP One app has been instrumental in arranging over 459,118 appointments for asylum seekers looking to enter the United States. Despite its success in numbers, the app has been marred by a tumultuous year-long saga of technical failures that undermine its efficacy. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a leading voice among the 35 U.S. House members advocating for these concerns, underscored the critical need to address the serious equity and accessibility issues that migrants encounter when relying on the CBP One mobile application as their sole gateway to asylum.
Furthermore, the letter strongly challenged a proposed rule that seeks to ban most migrants from asylum protection in the United States, should they fail to apply for protection in a transit country or enter through a port of entry without pre-arranging their appointment via the CBP One app. Castro emphasized the paramount importance of ensuring both technical and physical capabilities to efficiently process asylum seekers. He pointed out that the current deficiencies contribute to backlogs and humanitarian crises at the border, with asylum seekers reporting various problems with the app—ranging from language barriers, a photo feature unable to recognize darker skin tones, connectivity issues, to unexplained appointment cancellations.
Secretary Mayorkas has yet to issue a response to the congressional letter. The call to action from the lawmakers highlights a deep concern for the humanitarian implications and stresses the significance of a fair, accessible, and functional system for managing asylum requests. The need for a swift resolution is paramount, urging Homeland Security to prioritize the enhancement of the CBP One app's performance, ensuring its reliability as a critical tool for those seeking refuge within the United States.
Analyst comment
Positive news: The collective of 36 members of Congress calling for an overhaul of the CBP One app highlights their concern for humanitarian implications and the need for a fair and accessible system for managing asylum requests. The market can expect increased attention and potential government funding in the software development sector to improve the app and address technical failures.
