In a critical move, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has committed to terminating the CBP One app and adjusting migrant parole policies from her first day as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
Noem's confirmation hearing revealed her plans to overhaul immigration processing and end the CBP One app as part of the incoming Trump administration, as Fox News reports.
During a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on Jan. 17, Noem, nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to head the Department of Homeland Security, announced significant policy changes. She stated her commitment to discontinue the CBP One app, initially developed for cargo inspection scheduling and later adapted for managing migrant appointments for U.S. entry.
The app's expansion in 2023 allowed migrants to book port of entry appointments for parole into the United States, reflecting an innovative approach to immigration management. By December of the previous year, more than 936,500 individuals had utilized this facility to gain entry into the country.
However, alongside the app, Noem plans to radically reform the related migrant parole programs. These had allowed, monthly, up to 30,000 nationals from countries like Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter the U.S. after thorough vetting, with approximately 531,000 people admitted since the program's inception in late 2022.
While the Biden administration advocated for these programs as avenues to promote legal immigration, critics argue that they encourage mass migration. Noem's stance aligns with the latter, promoting a more secure and structured approach toward managing U.S. borders and immigration.
In collaboration with Tom Homan, appointed as the "border czar" in November, Noem is set to lead a stringent border security and mass deportation strategy. This pivot marks a clear shift from the previous administration's policies toward a more rigorous enforcement of immigration laws.
Highlighting the need for data security, Noem affirmed during her testimony that the information collected through the CBP One app would be preserved for security and surveillance purposes, ensuring a robust tracking system of those who have entered the country.
Noem's plans involve comprehensive changes to the immigration system, including the way parole cases are reviewed. Each parole case will undergo a day-by-day evaluation to ensure thorough consideration and lawful processing. Expressing the need for greater resources in legal immigration processing, Noem discussed enhancing the system's capacity. "We will go back to case-by-case evaluation of these parole cases and ensure that we have more resources, if you will partner with us, to make sure that our legal immigration system is fully utilized," Noem explained to Senator Josh Hawley.
The nominee underscored a return to traditional, law-abiding processes for handling immigration, starkly contrasting with what she describes as the Biden administration's lax approach. She emphasized the importance of allocating more judges and expanding immigration courts to properly process and integrate legal entrants into American society.
Noem's testimony not only clarified her immediate operational priorities but also aligned with the broader security objectives of the incoming administration. "Senator, no, the southern border is not secure today. But in just three days, we will have a new president in this country, President Donald J. Trump. And he will secure our border," she declared, highlighting an imminent shift in border security management.
Her statements during the hearing reflect a direct and unambiguous commitment to revamping the current immigration and border security policies to foster a more secure and law-abiding entry system into the country.
As the Senate deliberates on her confirmation, the implications of her proposed policies are anticipated to be far-reaching, affecting not only immigration management but also the broader national security landscape under the Trump administration.
