Confusion and Fear Amidst Immigration Policy Changes

Hubert Montoya, an immigration lawyer, was surprised to receive an email from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security instructing him to leave the country immediately or face deportation. As a U.S. citizen, he found the situation absurd.

This appears to be a consequence of the Trump administration's actions regarding a Biden-era policy. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is quietly revoking two-year permits granted to individuals who used the CBP One online appointment app at U.S. border crossings with Mexico. This app facilitated the entry of over 900,000 people starting in January 2023.

The revocation of these CBP One permits has occurred without the public announcements that accompanied the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status for individuals from countries previously deemed unsafe, as well as humanitarian parole for those from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who had financial sponsors. Those earlier actions were accompanied by official notices and press releases, and were subsequently challenged in court by advocacy groups.

Cancellation notices began arriving in inboxes in late March, often without warning. Some recipients were told to leave immediately, while others were given a seven-day deadline. Notably, some of these notices were sent to U.S. citizens.

Timothy J. Brenner, a lawyer, also received a notice to leave the U.S. He expressed concern that the administration might be targeting immigration attorneys. CBP confirmed that it had issued notices terminating temporary legal status under CBP One, but did not specify the number of notices sent. The agency stated that notices may have been sent to unintended recipients, including attorneys, if beneficiaries provided contact information for U.S. citizens. They are addressing these situations individually.

Online discussions reveal widespread fear and confusion, which critics suggest is the administration's intention. Brenner reported that some of his clients chose to return to El Salvador after receiving the notices. Advocacy groups are concerned about the lack of transparency regarding the number of people affected.

President Trump suspended CBP One for new arrivals upon taking office. Those already in the U.S. under the program believed they could stay until their permits expired. The cancellation notices have disrupted this temporary stability.

Legal professionals note that some CBP One beneficiaries may still be eligible to file for asylum or seek other forms of relief. Notices have also been sent to individuals whose removal orders are currently on hold under other temporary protection programs. A federal judge has temporarily halted deportations for over 500,000 individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who arrived after applying online with a financial sponsor.

One Nicaraguan woman, who arrived through the online process, described the notice as devastating. She plans to continue working and pursue asylum.