Deconstructing Trump’s Self-Deportation Plan: A Heritage Foundation Perspective

The Trump administration launches ‘CBP Home’ app with a “self-deport” feature, replacing Biden’s controversial CBP One app that allowed over one million illegal border crossings.

Quick Takes

The Trump administration has transformed the Biden-era ‘CBP One’ app into ‘CBP Home’, now featuring a self-deportation option for illegal immigrants.
The app allows illegal migrants to voluntarily signal their intent to leave the U.S. by providing personal information.
A $200 million ad campaign accompanies the app, warning illegal immigrants to leave or face deportation.
Immigration attorneys remain skeptical about the app, fearing personal data could be used for targeted deportations.
Self-deportation may not guarantee future legal entry due to the “10-year bar” law affecting those unlawfully present for over a year.

Trump Administration Revamps Border Tech with CBP Home

The Department of Homeland Security has unveiled the new ‘CBP Home’ app, a significant rebrand of the Biden administration’s controversial ‘CBP One’ app that President Trump shut down on his first day in office. This technological pivot represents a stark shift in immigration enforcement philosophy. The original ‘CBP One’ app was designed to schedule asylum appointments at the southern border, facilitating the entry of over 900,000 migrants. In contrast, the new ‘CBP Home’ app focuses on encouraging illegal immigrants to leave the United States voluntarily, with features specifically designed for self-deportation.

The app allows illegal migrants to declare their departure intentions by uploading personal information through a simple interface. Additional practical functions include applying and paying for an I-94 form and checking border wait times. DHS officials state that the ‘CBP One’ app will automatically update to ‘CBP Home’, though many question how widely the new features will be utilized in practice. This technological approach to immigration enforcement aligns with the Trump administration’s broader strategy to reinstate stronger border security measures.

CBP Home App – Allows Illegal Aliens to Self-Deport

🔹Illegal Aliens who Self-Deport may apply to return to US pic.twitter.com/tpE37Fsdc3

— DogeWatchReport (@DogeWatchReport) March 10, 2025

Legal Experts Raise Concerns About Implementation

Immigration attorneys have expressed significant skepticism about the app’s purpose and potential consequences. Some fear the self-deportation function could serve as a data collection tool for immigration enforcement officials. The personal information provided through the app might potentially be used to locate and deport individuals who hesitate after registering their intent to leave. This concern reflects broader tensions between the stated purpose of providing a humane departure option and fears of more aggressive enforcement tactics.

While some immigration attorneys express doubt that many illegal immigrants will voluntarily use the app, they acknowledge that certain individuals might prefer self-deportation over the prospect of arrest, detention, and forced removal. The administration has launched a substantial $200 million advertising campaign alongside the app, clearly communicating to illegal immigrants that they should leave voluntarily or face deportation. This two-pronged approach of technological tools and public messaging represents a coordinated strategy to reduce illegal immigration numbers.

Self-Deportation and Future Legal Return Questions

A key selling point from administration officials is that self-deportation through the app may provide pathways for potential legal return in the future. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has emphasized this aspect, positioning the app as offering a more favorable option compared to forced deportation.

However, immigration attorneys point out significant legal hurdles that could prevent such returns. The so-called “10-year bar” law prohibits reentry for a decade for individuals unlawfully present in the United States for over a year, regardless of how they leave the country. This legal reality contradicts some of the administration’s messaging around the benefits of self-deportation. Critics note that the removal of features that allowed scheduling appointments with immigration judges further limits options for those seeking legal remedies to their immigration status.

Early Results and Administration Perspective

Administration officials point to early success in their border enforcement strategy, with reports indicating a significant decrease in monthly border crossings during Trump’s second term. The ‘CBP Home’ app represents just one component of a broader approach to immigration enforcement that emphasizes deterrence and increased deportations. Acting CBP Commissioner Pete Flores framed the app as strengthening border security by ensuring lawful entry for travelers while supporting effective enforcement of immigration laws.

Secretary Noem has been particularly critical of the previous administration’s approach, stating that the Biden administration “exploited the ‘CBP One’ app to allow more than 1 million aliens to illegally enter the United States.” This characterization reflects the sharp policy contrast between the two administrations on immigration enforcement and border security. The ‘CBP Home’ app’s development and implementation directly follow an executive order from President Trump specifically ending the use of the ‘CBP One’ app, marking a clear policy reversal from the previous administration.