Last week President Biden announced his sweeping Executive Order that essentially shuts down border crossings with Mexico for those seeking asylum until the number of those seeking appointments are decreased to a small percentage of the daily requests. The announcement is seen by many as a concession to support a second Biden presidency and promotes the use of an online application to process interview requests.

The shutdown of the border echoes the Trump policy that excluded all asylum requests. Rights groups like Amnesty International have vocally opposed the treacherous policy, and have filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration on constitutional grounds.

The CPB One Mobile App, which has been in place since 2020, selects users for appointments randomly and tracks geographical data on individuals. The languages available on the App are limited, and those selected for appointments must quickly travel to the location from wherever they are, to avoid missing the opportunity to apply for asylum in the US. Amnesty, along with local groups serving as plaintiffs in the challenge, have voiced their grave concerns about how the new Executive Order would violate peoples’ rights under International Law and even the laws guaranteeing asylum within the US.

The policy announcement comes during extreme heat conditions in the arid Southwest, and the rising death toll of those seeking legal entry have been documented in recent days. While there are some exceptions to the new rules, human rights organizations in El Paso and other border cities are unsure of how the policy will be enforced.