Hundreds of thousands of inadmissible aliens, including from hostile nations like Russia, released into the interior

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following months of stonewalling, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finally responded to multiple requests by the House Committee on Homeland Security for information and documents regarding the expanded use of the CBP One app by DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ department to release hundreds of thousands of otherwise inadmissible aliens into the United States. The documents covered the period between Jan. 12, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2023. 

The documents are still under review to determine the extent of DHS’ compliance with the Committee’s comprehensive request.

However, the ongoing review of the initial production of documents revealed several shocking findings about DHS’ abuse of the CBP One app: 

• Overall, 95.8 percent of all inadmissible aliens who scheduled appointments through the app during this time were ultimately issued a “Notice to Appear” (NTA) and released into the United States on parole. 
• The documents show 278,431 appointments scheduled, with 266,846 of these individuals released into the interior.
• Individuals from a number of countries of concern made appointments through the app and were overwhelmingly released into the country.
  • Out of 57,381 appointments made by Venezuelan nationals, 55,690 were released on parole, a rate of 97 percent. 
  • Out of 20,948 appointments made by Russian nationals, 19,780 were released on parole, a rate of 94 percent. 
  • Out of 2,279 appointments made by Uzbek nationals, 1,866 were released on parole, a rate of 82 percent. 
  • Out of 801 appointments made by Belarusian nationals, 787 were released on parole, a rate of 98 percent. 
  • Out of 246 appointments made by Afghan nationals, 229 were released on parole, a rate of 93 percent. 
  • Out of 36 appointments made by Chinese nationals, 32 were released on parole, a rate of 88 percent. 
  • Out of 18 appointments made by Iranian nationals, 16 were released on parole, a rate of 88 percent. 
• The app has consistently been used to release otherwise inadmissible aliens from Mexico and Northern Triangle countries.
  • Out of 58,772 appointments made by Mexican nationals, 55,099 were released on parole, a rate of 93 percent.  
  • Out of 20,776 appointments made by Hondurans, 20,060 were released on parole, a rate of 96 percent.
  • Out of 3,939 appointments made by Guatemalans, 3,717 were released on parole, a rate of 94 percent.
• Other nations represented in the release statistics include Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, and Yemen.

“Secretary Mayorkas has utterly abused the CBP One app in his quest for open borders,” said Chairman Green. “These numbers are proof that Mayorkas’ operation is a smokescreen for the mass release of individuals into this country who would otherwise have zero claim to be admitted. At a time when global tensions are rising, and our enemies are growing bolder, releasing tens of thousands of these people into our communities—especially when they have not received adequate, if any, vetting—is irresponsible. It shouldn’t take a subpoena threat from Congress to get these answers, but we are going to keep fighting for the truth.”

Background:

On June 1, the Committee requested initial documents on the app and received only an interim acknowledgment of receipt from the department. Following reporting by the Washington Examiner, which confirmed that Mexican cartels are abusing the CBP One app as a tool for their vast human smuggling operations, the Committee renewed their previous unsatisfied requests and demanded additional information on September 14. Following further stonewalling by the department, Chairman Green issued a subpoena threat on Friday, October 13. 

In the letter addressed to Secretary Mayorkas, Chairman Green wrote, “As outlined in my October 13, 2023 letter, over the course of several months, the Committee made multiple attempts to obtain the requested documents and information without compulsory process. The Committee’s requests from the June 1, 2023 letter, however, remain unsatisfied and are 127 days delinquent with no definitive timeline for production even after the September 14, 2023 follow up letter. The Committee also recently attempted to obtain a proposed timeline for production via multiple telephone calls, however, the Department instead continues to cast doubt on any definitive timeline for future production. The Department’s demonstrated approach to indefinitely protract production necessitates issuance of the enclosed subpoena.”

Just minutes before the October 20 deadline provided by the Committee to the department, DHS sent an initial production of documents to the Committee. 

In September, the Washington Examiner reported that cartels are using virtual private networks (VPN) to skirt requirements that aliens signing up for appointments at ports of entry via CBP One be present in northern Mexico before making the appointment. Using these VPNs, the cartels can exploit vulnerabilities in the app and schedule appointments for individuals regardless of their location—all for a fee—and they advertise this “service” on social media.

In September, DHS processed approximately 43,000 inadmissible aliens into the country using the CBP One app, and announced nearly 278,000 “successfully scheduled appointments” between January-September 2023. The app was created for commercial use, but the Biden administration is now using it to incentivize otherwise inadmissible aliens to schedule an appointment and claim asylum directly at a port of entry, after which they will be released into the interior, regardless of the legitimacy of their claim.  

Chairman Green and the House Committee on Homeland Security have warned of the dangers of the expanded use of the CBP One app for months. In April, the Committee introduced the Border Reinforcement Act, legislation that was later passed by the House as part of Republicans’ Secure the Border Act. This legislation includes a provision to restrict the use of the CBP One app to its original intent—allowing for the efficient movement of commercial goods into the United States. On June 6, the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement, led by Chairman Clay Higgins (R-LA), held a hearing to examine the Biden administration’s failure to prepare for the end of Title 42 on May 11, exposing how the Biden administration is using the CBP One app as a shell game to shift alien encounters to ports of entry and hide the continuing humanitarian crisis.