Rep. Vargas, Colleagues Urge DHS to Address Major Barriers to Asylum with CBP One App
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52) joined 29 of his House colleagues in calling on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to address concerns regarding the Customs and Border Protection’s mobile application (CBP One), the primary mechanism for managing asylum interview requests.
Since its implementation, issues with the CBP One app have posed challenges for people seeking asylum at ports of entry. In 2023, Rep. Vargas joined his colleagues in sending a letter to DHS with more than 30 colleagues expressing their initial concerns with the CBP One app. In this latest follow-up letter, the lawmakers acknowledge that while DHS has made some changes, urgent issues remain unresolved. These include concerns that the app is only available in a limited number of languages and effectively restricts access to asylum.
“First and foremost, CBP’s decision to require asylum seekers to use the still-faulty CBP One app fundamentally undermines the accessibility of the asylum process,” wrote the lawmakers. “CBP One itself is technologically complex and has significant language limitations, creating inherent barriers for applicants who are not familiar with mobile devices or who speak a language other than the three currently offered in the app.”
Since its launch, the CBP One app has only been offered in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. Many asylum seekers who do not speak these languages find themselves at a significant disadvantage and struggle to access critical information and navigate the complex asylum process. Even individuals who do speak one of the three operating languages often encounter poor translations.
“These limitations are extremely problematic because the app is the only way for arriving asylum seekers to schedule an appointment and get screened for asylum. Individuals who cannot use CBP One due to language barriers, technical failures, or other obstacles and present at a port of entry must demonstrate to often-skeptical CBP officials that it was not possible to apply through the app,” added the lawmakers. “There are real consequences for individuals who cannot use the app to schedule an appointment.”
Read the full letter HERE.
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