An internal report by the Department of Homeland Security warns of the dangers of the CBP One app, which has been used by thousands of migrants seeking asylum. The report highlights technological issues and concerns about the vetting process, including the inability to identify suspicious trends.
The government's mobile app for migrants seeking asylum at the southern border has come under fire for its lack of vetting and technological shortcomings.
An internal watchdog report sent to Congress by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reveals that the CBP One app, launched in 2020 to schedule appointments for entry into the U.S., has failed to adequately plan for risks and address opportunities for improvement.
CBP One: Government App for Migrants Faces Scrutiny for Lack of Vetting
The report underscores concerns about the app's vulnerability to crashes and the frequency of error messages received by noncitizens. It also points to language barriers and uneven opportunities for securing appointments.
More importantly, the report highlights glaring issues with the vetting of migrants prior to their arrival at the border. Despite the use of biographic and biometric information, the app fails to leverage this data to identify suspicious trends in pre-arrival vetting procedures.
CBP One: Government App for Migrants Faces Scrutiny for Lack of Vetting
The report finds that the app cannot analyze data of immigrants claiming a U.S. residence for an intended address. In one instance, the report identified potentially unrelated noncitizens who repeatedly claimed identical U.S. residences, highlighting the need for routine analysis of CBP One data to identify potential anomalies.
The CBP One app has drawn criticism from both sides of the immigration debate. Amnesty International has denounced it as a violation of international human rights and refugee law, arguing that it creates obstacles to an already challenging process. The House Committee on Homeland Security has also expressed concerns about the "shocking abuse" of the app, citing high rates of notice to appear and entry into the country for inadmissible aliens.
CBP One: Government App for Migrants Faces Scrutiny for Lack of Vetting
The report's findings further amplify these concerns, emphasizing the need for immediate improvements to mitigate the technological risks and ensure thorough vetting of migrants seeking entry into the U.S.
Despite the report's warnings, neither the CBP nor the White House has responded to requests for comment.
CBP One: Government App for Migrants Faces Scrutiny for Lack of Vetting
The CBP One app was initially conceived during the Trump administration as a way to expedite border crossings for those with the legal right to enter. However, the app has faced opposition from conservatives who contend that it encourages migrants to seek asylum.
The report's findings highlight the urgent need to address the shortcomings of the CBP One app, balancing the need for efficient border management with the imperative to ensure the safety and integrity of the immigration process.
