U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced a new feature on the public facing mobile application CBP Home that provides undocumented individuals with a way to announce their voluntary departure to the U.S. government. The new feature-Intent to Depart-is part of a larger campaign by federal immigration agencies to comply with the increase in immigration enforcement championed by the Trump administration. By providing undocumented individuals with an orderly means of leaving the U.S. on their own terms, this will remove the burden off federal officials.
Since the start of President Trump’s second term, there has been an uptake in immigrants-both legal and undocumented-choosing voluntary departure from the United States-rather than facing removal processing. The launch of the Intent to Depart feature on CBP Home enables undocumented individuals to state their intended departure date through an official channel. This feature allows the government to keep track of individuals intending to leave, therefore streamlining the immigration enforcement process. The hope is that by providing a voluntary method of leaving the U.S. for undocumented individuals, the pressure on federal agencies will be partly lifted.
By giving undocumented individuals the option to announce their intent to depart the U.S. from the CBP mobile app, federal agencies hope to alleviate the pressure on the U.S. immigration system. Due to the app’s recent implementation, it’s unknown how many undocumented immigrants will use it. It’s also too soon to tell if self-removal will lessen the backlog in the U.S. immigration system.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical.
