Over an eight-month period, around 350 immigrants heading to the U.S. border used the same address—a four-bedroom home in central California—when applying for appointments through the CBP One app. This practice drew attention from an independent report by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG), which raised concerns about the app’s potential security vulnerabilities.
The app, which has facilitated over 765,000 appointment bookings since its launch 18 months ago, was critiqued for its lack of thorough risk assessment during its development.
The OIG report revealed that the central California address was used by 358 individuals seeking appointments across all eight ports of entry. This raised suspicions as 266 of these individuals had different last names, suggesting they were unrelated.
The report noted that the app’s requirement for a U.S. address—an extra measure imposed by CBP—was not a legal necessity for asylum seekers, highlighting potential barriers it creates for those without U.S. contacts.
Report Highlights Security Concerns as 350 Immigrants Use Same Address in CBP One App Over 8 Months
Additional issues with the CBP One app included difficulties in detecting suspicious patterns due to limited data sharing between different ports. The report also uncovered fraudulent activities, such as migrants creating multiple accounts to increase their chances of securing appointments.
One individual submitted 466 registrations in a single month, illustrating the extent of attempts to bypass the system. These problems point to the app’s inadequate mechanisms for preventing and addressing fraudulent behavior.
Critics, including human rights organizations, have expressed concerns about the app’s limitations. The app’s exclusivity—due to its language barriers and the requirement for smartphones—disadvantage certain migrants.
Despite CBP’s recent efforts to improve security and data accessibility for border officers, the OIG has indicated that it will continue to monitor the situation. The agency has yet to fully address the report’s recommendations, leaving significant issues unresolved.
Advocates like Nicole Elizabeth Ramos argue that more substantial changes are necessary. She emphasized that the app’s flaws have resulted in lengthy delays and difficulties for asylum seekers, some of whom face severe consequences while waiting for their appointments. The OIG’s continued oversight underscores the need for ongoing improvements to enhance the app’s security and functionality to better serve those seeking asylum.
