In a move that has left thousands of migrants stranded and in shock, the Trump administration canceled scheduled asylum appointments just hours after the former president’s inauguration. This decision has caused panic and uncertainty among individuals who had hoped to enter the United States legally.
Canceling Appointments Creates Chaos for Migrants
Margelis Tinoco Lopez, along with her husband and 13-year-old son, arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border at 4 a.m. for their 1 p.m. immigration appointment. However, their hopes quickly turned to despair when they received an email from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stating that their scheduled appointments were no longer valid. The email read: “Existing appointments scheduled through the CBP One application are no longer valid.”
Tinoco Lopez, overwhelmed with emotion, broke down in tears. “I’m devastated,” she said, sitting at a Juárez migrant shelter. “It feels like a sense of instability, and I feel vulnerable and scared.”
A Broken System for Thousands of Migrants
Tinoco Lopez is one of many migrants who found themselves caught in this sudden policy shift. They had spent months preparing for the opportunity to request asylum in the U.S., only to see their appointments canceled at the last moment.
The CBP One app, which had previously allowed migrants to schedule appointments, was halted on Trump’s first day back in office. The app had permitted 1,450 appointments daily at various U.S.-Mexico border ports. With nearly 300,000 people attempting to secure an appointment daily, migrants often waited months before successfully obtaining a spot. Since January 2023, over 936,500 appointments had been made, according to CBP statistics.
Trump’s Aggressive Immigration Agenda
Trump’s actions didn’t stop at canceling asylum appointments. He also issued an executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship and declared a national emergency at the southern border. This order allows the federal government to send military and National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. Additionally, refugee resettlement programs were halted, cutting off a vital avenue for people fleeing war and persecution.
Migrants like Tinoco Lopez, who had fled Colombia after losing a child, were left reeling. She and her family had sold their belongings to afford travel from Mexico City to Juárez, where they believed they would finally be allowed to enter the U.S. legally. “We were so happy, we thought we were finally going to be able to enter the U.S.,” said José Loaiza, her husband. “But when we found out they wouldn’t let us in, it was just overwhelming.”
Growing Desperation Among Migrants
In Juárez, Pastor Juan Fierro García, who runs a migrant shelter, said that the cancellation of appointments has caused a surge in uncertainty among those seeking asylum. “There’s just a lot of uncertainty right now,” he said, noting that the number of people seeking shelter is expected to rise.
Jesse Palmera, a migrant from Venezuela, learned of the appointment cancellations on Monday afternoon when his father called to confirm that his scheduled Jan. 28 appointment had been revoked. Palmera, who had hoped to earn money in the U.S. to support his family, was left feeling hopeless. “When I got the appointment, I thought, ‘My parents and sisters won’t have to suffer economically because I can finally work and send money back home,'” he said.
Legal Challenges Emerge
As expected, Trump’s immigration measures have quickly drawn legal challenges. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed lawsuits to halt the executive order targeting birthright citizenship and to challenge the cancellation of asylum appointments through the CBP One app. “We are working hard on bringing other lawsuits,” said Cecillia Wang of the ACLU. “We are coming to court to stand up for your rights.”
Legal experts have also expressed concerns about the constitutionality of Trump’s actions. Elora Mukherjee, director of Columbia Law School’s Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, pointed out that ending birthright citizenship conflicts with the 14th Amendment and that policies like “remain in Mexico” violate both domestic and international law. “Just because the president does it, it doesn’t make it legal,” Mukherjee emphasized.
The Humanitarian Impact and Growing Fear
In South Texas, Andrea Rudnik, co-founder of the Team Brownsville organization, expressed concern that Trump’s executive orders would negatively affect organizations offering humanitarian aid to migrants. “There’s just a lot of unknown. We will continue to try to serve in the best way that we can,” Rudnik said.
Jennifer Babaie, director of legal services at Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center in El Paso, also voiced concern about the impact on civil liberties. “These executive orders — no matter your political party — totally disregard civil liberties,” Babaie stated. “If a government can come in on day one and put this much restriction on civil liberties, what else would they be willing to do?”
Uncertain Future for Migrants
As the dust settles from these abrupt changes, migrants remain in a state of confusion and fear. While some seek legal counsel and support, others are faced with the harsh reality of having their hopes dashed just as they believed they were about to begin a new life in the U.S.
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