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MSF denounces increased risks for migrants following closure of US asylum process [1]
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Date: 2025-01
MSF teams in Mexico are already witnessing the harmful effects of these political measures on the physical and mental health of many of their patients.
On January 20, the Trump administration removed the scheduling functionality for the CBP One app, which allowed migrants to schedule appointments to seek asylum at eight southwest border points of entry. “This irresponsible decision will have both immediate and long-term repercussions for countless individuals, threatening their lives, health, and well-being,” said Adriana Palomares, general coordinator for MSF in Mexico.
CBP One was the sole pathway for asylum requests
Initially launched in 2020 to streamline cargo inspections at the US-Mexico border, the CBP One app expanded in January 2023 to facilitate asylum appointments for unauthorized migrants fleeing violence, poverty, or persecution. By May 2023, it became the primary pathway for asylum requests at US ports of entry under the Biden administration. Over the past year, nearly 1 million migrants—approximately 1,450 people daily—used the app to secure screening appointments.
The app provided a critical, albeit limited, avenue for asylum seekers to avoid hazardous routes and the perils of human trafficking networks. Its abrupt shutdown leaves many of the most vulnerable, including survivors of violence and persecution, with no legal or safe alternatives.
MSF staff report that the closure of CBP One has triggered a wave of despair and uncertainty. Many migrants had already begun to sell belongings, quit jobs, and separate from loved ones in preparation for their journey to the border in anticipation of their upcoming appointments.
“A patient we treated this week suffered an acute anxiety attack after her previously approved asylum appointment in early February was canceled,” said Ramón Márquez, coordinator for MSF’s Comprehensive Care Center (CAI) in Mexico City. “Our therapeutic teams are ramping up interventions to support those in emotional crisis.”
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[1] Url:
https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/msf-denounces-increased-risks-migrants-following-closure-us-asylum-process-0
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