When Donald Trump took office, he had a surprise in store for people trying to legally enter the U. S. He shut down an app that helped migrants apply for asylum. Known as CBP One, this app was set up by the previous administration to manage the flow of asylum seekers at the southwest border. But on Monday, the app was closed, and all appointments made through it were canceled. This move left many migrants feeling disappointed and uncertain about their future.

The app was a big deal. It was the only way to get an appointment to request asylum. Every day, around 280, 000 people were logging in to secure an appointment. But now, those hopes were dashed. People were left in tears, wondering what to do next.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the change on their website. They said that the app was no longer available for this purpose and that existing appointments had been canceled. This news hit migrants hard. They had been waiting for a long time, sometimes over a year, for their appointments.

One migrant from El Salvador, Julio Alberto Hernández, had his appointment just days away. He was looking forward to supporting his children. Another migrant, Melanie Mendoza, had been waiting for a year and a half. She felt the cancellation was unfair. Across the border, people sat in shelters, staring at emails that told them their appointments had been canceled, tears welling up in their eyes.

Trump had hinted at this move before. He wasn't a fan of the app and the number of people it allowed in. The app had its critics too, with complaints about technical glitches and long wait times. But for many migrants, it was their only chance to enter the U. S. legally.

The App that Held Hope is Suddenly Shut Down

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