CBP One App Shutdown: What the Data Shows
Published September 26, 2026 · Sources: CBP, DHS, TRAC Immigration
On January 20, 2025, the CBP One mobile app was shut down on Inauguration Day — ending the Biden-era program that allowed migrants to schedule appointments at ports of entry. Over its 18-month lifespan, the app processed more than 930,000 appointments. Nearly two years later, the data tells a clear story about what happened next.
What Was CBP One?
Launched in January 2023, CBP One was a mobile app that allowed migrants — primarily those waiting in northern Mexico — to schedule appointments at eight southwest border ports of entry. The program was designed to reduce dangerous illegal crossings by creating a legal pathway for asylum seekers and other migrants to present themselves at official checkpoints.
At its peak, the app processed approximately 1,450 appointments per day. The top nationalities using the app were Venezuelan, Haitian, Cuban, Colombian, and Mexican nationals. Appointments were released daily at random, creating a lottery-like system that drew both praise for reducing chaos and criticism for being too slow and arbitrary.
The Shutdown and Its Aftermath
The app was terminated on January 20, 2025, as one of the first executive actions of the incoming Trump administration. Approximately 270,000 migrants had active pending appointments that were immediately canceled. The administration argued that CBP One had become a “catch and release” mechanism that incentivized illegal immigration.
The data since the shutdown is striking. Port-of-entry (OFO) encounters — the category CBP One appointments fell under — dropped from 1.3 million in FY2024 to approximately 130,000 in FY2026 FYTD. Meanwhile, USBP apprehensions between ports of entry also fell sharply, though that decline began before the app shutdown, driven by Mexico's own enforcement actions and the broader deterrence strategy.
| Metric | FY2024 (with CBP One) | FY2026 FYTD (without) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Border Encounters | 2,822,441 | 185,321 | ↓ 93% |
| OFO (Port of Entry) | 1,303,098 | 129,933 | ↓ 90% |
| USBP (Between Ports) | 1,519,343 | 55,297 | ↓ 96% |
| ICE Removals | 271,484 | 471,000+ | ↑ 73% |
| Avg Daily Detained | 38,200 | 67,500 | ↑ 77% |
What the Numbers Mean
The encounter data shows an undeniable drop. But interpreting why requires nuance. The decline began before the app shutdown — Mexico ramped up its own enforcement starting in late 2024, and the Biden-era asylum transit ban (June 2024) had already reduced numbers significantly. The app shutdown accelerated a trend already in motion.
Critics of the shutdown argue that eliminating CBP One didn't stop migration — it just pushed people back into dangerous irregular crossings or into indefinite limbo in Mexico. UNHCR reported a significant increase in migrant shelters at capacity in Tijuana, Ciudad Juárez, and Reynosa through 2025 and into 2026.
Supporters counter that the numbers speak for themselves: encounters are down over 90% from FY2024 peaks, and the elimination of a “pull factor” app has helped restore deterrence. The simultaneous surge in ICE enforcement — 471,000+ removals in FY2026 — creates a two-pronged approach: fewer entries, more departures.
What Happened to CBP One Users?
Of the 930,000+ people who entered through CBP One appointments, the majority were paroled into the U.S. with work authorization and instructions to apply for asylum. Their cases have entered the immigration court system, adding to the already massive 3.7-million-case backlog.
As of mid-2026, fewer than 15% of CBP One parolees have had their asylum cases fully adjudicated. Many face hearing dates in 2028 or 2029. The administration has moved to revoke the parole status of some CBP One entrants, arguing the program exceeded legal authority — a move currently being challenged in federal courts.
The Bottom Line
CBP One was the largest structured entry program in modern border history. Its shutdown removed a major legal pathway while enforcement scaled to record levels. Border encounters are at their lowest in years, but the 930,000 people already admitted through the program remain in legal limbo, and the question of whether eliminating legal pathways reduces overall migration — or just changes how it happens — remains unanswered by the data alone.
Related Analysis
Data sourced from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, ICE ERO annual reports, DHS Office of Homeland Security Statistics, and TRAC Immigration. CBP One appointment totals from CBP press releases. Last updated September 2026.