The Trump administration has introduced a completely revamped mobile application, formerly used to allow migrants to apply for asylum, and transformed it into a system that encourages individuals living in the U.S. without legal status to declare their intention to leave the country voluntarily.
The app, rebranded and announced Monday as CBP Home, is part of the administration’s broader campaign to promote “self-deportation.” Officials have framed it as a cost-effective and convenient way to advance President Donald Trump’s efforts to remove millions of undocumented immigrants.
“The application provides illegal aliens in the U.S. with a simple way to declare their intent to voluntarily depart, giving them the opportunity to leave before facing more severe consequences,” stated Pete Flores, the acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in a press release.
Prior to Trump taking office, the app—then known as CBP One—was used to help migrants apply for asylum. However, shortly after his inauguration, the app ceased accepting asylum requests, and tens of thousands of scheduled border appointments were canceled.
Between January 2023 and the transition under Trump, more than 900,000 individuals were admitted into the U.S. under temporary parole using CBP One, typically for a period of two years. Now, the administration is repurposing the tool as a mechanism to push undocumented immigrants out of the country.
Will Anyone Actually “Self-Deport”?
Trump and his administration have long urged undocumented migrants to leave voluntarily. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reinforced this stance on social media, stating:
“The CBP Home app gives illegal immigrants the option to leave now and self-deport so they may still have a chance to return legally in the future and live the American dream. If they don’t, we will find them, deport them, and they will never come back.”
However, the real motivation behind this initiative raises serious questions. Historically, so-called ‘self-deportation’ policies have been largely ineffective because undocumented immigrants facing deportation often have deep ties to their communities, families, and jobs in the U.S. The idea that individuals would willingly remove themselves—especially when they fear never being able to return—is unrealistic.
In reality, this app appears to be more about optics than practicality. It serves as a tool to reinforce Trump’s hardline immigration stance while attempting to shift the responsibility onto migrants themselves. By offering a “voluntary” option, the administration can claim it is providing an alternative to forced deportation—while simultaneously ramping up enforcement actions to ensure removals continue aggressively.
This move aligns with Trump’s broader immigration agenda, which includes mass deportations, restricting asylum, and criminalizing undocumented presence. The launch of CBP Home is likely an effort to legitimize his administration’s crackdown while giving the illusion of providing a choice.
Whether the app will see widespread use is doubtful. The true intent seems to be political messaging rather than a realistic deportation strategy. If history is any indicator, undocumented immigrants are unlikely to voluntarily leave, knowing that forced removals will still be pursued aggressively.
Ultimately, CBP Home may be less about helping migrants leave and more about reinforcing Trump’s tough-on-immigration image—a signature policy cornerstone as he seeks to solidify his base.
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