The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a new feature on its CBP Home app aimed at encouraging illegal immigrants to voluntarily leave the United States. The updated application, which replaces the now-defunct CBP One app used by the Biden administration, includes a “Submit Intent to Depart” option, allowing unauthorized migrants to notify DHS of their intent to self-deport.
The app, which officially launched on Monday, enables users to verify their departure, potentially improving their chances of re-entering the U.S. legally in the future.
A New Approach to Deportation
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem praised the initiative as a practical solution to streamlining immigration enforcement while offering an incentive for individuals to comply with U.S. immigration laws.
"The CBP Home app gives aliens the option to leave now and self-deport, so they may still have the opportunity to return legally in the future and live the American dream," Noem said in a statement. However, she issued a firm warning to those who do not comply: "If they don’t, we will find them, we will deport them, and they will never return."
This latest move comes amid an aggressive crackdown by President Donald Trump’s administration on illegal immigration. Since returning to the White House, Trump has reinstated hardline border policies, including deploying a military presence at the southern border and launching a large-scale deportation initiative to remove over 1 million individuals who entered the U.S. under the previous administration.
Trump Pushes for Faster Deportations
Despite these measures, Trump and his newly appointed border czar, Tom Homan, have expressed frustration over the slow pace of deportations. February saw roughly 11,000 illegal immigrants deported, slightly fewer than the 12,000 deported in the same period in 2024 under President Biden. The White House has increased pressure on immigration authorities to expedite removals, leading to the recent reassignment of former acting ICE Director Caleb Vitello.
To intensify enforcement efforts, Noem appointed Todd Lyons as Vitello’s replacement. Lyons, previously ICE’s acting executive associate director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, is expected to accelerate deportation operations.
Border Crossings Plummet
While deportation numbers remain a point of contention, illegal border crossings have dramatically decreased. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently reported the lowest number of border encounters in 25 years, with some days seeing only 200 apprehensions. This marks a stark contrast to the more than 8,000 daily apprehensions recorded under Biden.
The termination of the CBP One app—which facilitated over 1 million migrant entries during Biden’s tenure—has been a key factor in the drop. The app had previously allowed migrants to schedule asylum appointments, enabling them to enter the country legally without crossing unlawfully.
Temporary Protected Status Rollbacks
Further signaling a shift in immigration policy, Trump’s DHS has rescinded Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 500,000 Haitians and 600,000 Venezuelans who had previously been allowed to remain in the U.S. under Biden’s administration. Additionally, Trump ended a humanitarian parole program that permitted up to 30,000 migrants per month from Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Haiti to enter the U.S.
The administration is now weighing whether to revoke TPS protections for 240,000 Ukrainians who sought refuge in the U.S. following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. While a final decision has not yet been made, the White House continues diplomatic efforts to mediate an end to the war.
The Road Ahead
With border security now a top priority, the Trump administration is expected to continue ramping up immigration enforcement. The self-deportation feature on the CBP Home app represents an effort to balance stringent enforcement with an alternative that could provide future legal pathways for migrants. However, critics argue that the policy shift could create humanitarian concerns, particularly for those who have established lives in the U.S.
