When immigration attorney Hubert Montoya received an email from the US Department of Homeland Security asking him to leave the country or face deportation, he could hardly believe it. “I just thought it was absurd,” said Montoya, a US citizen from Austin, Texas.
As the Trump administration continues to unwind the immigration policies of previous administrations, more and more individuals are being caught up in what some are calling a mass deportation effort. The latest wave includes the revocation of two-year permits granted under the Biden administration. These permits were issued to individuals who used the CBP One online appointment app at US-Mexico border crossings. Since January 2023, over 900,000 people have entered the country using this app.
The cancellations of these permits have not received the same formal attention as other actions taken by the administration. For instance, President Trump previously cancelled Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of people from countries deemed unsafe for return. That move came with official notices published in the Federal Register and press releases, but the judges later blocked it after advocacy groups filed lawsuits.
In late March 2025, however, CBP One cancellation notices began landing in inboxes with little warning. Some recipients were instructed to leave immediately, while others received a seven-day notice. What’s even more concerning is that these notices were sent to people who were US citizens, including immigration attorneys like Timothy J. Brenner from Houston, Connecticut.
On April 11, he received a notice telling him to leave the country. “I became concerned that the administration has a list of immigration attorneys or a database that they’re trying to target to harass,” he said.
CBP confirmed the issuance of these termination notices but did not clarify how many people received them. The department explained that not all 936,000 CBP One beneficiaries had been notified; however, some attorneys and U.S. citizens had mistakenly received notifications because they were listed as emergency contacts.
The cancellation of CBP One permits has sparked confusion and fear, particularly among immigrant communities. According to critics, the confusion is precisely the administration’s intent. “The fact that we don’t know how many people got this notice is part of the problem. We’re getting reports from attorneys and folks who don’t know what to make of the notice,” said Hillary Li, counsel for the Justice Action Centre, an advocacy group.
Many individuals who received the cancellation notice decided to leave the US, fearing deportation. Among them was one of Brenner’s clients, who chose to return to El Salvador after being told to leave.
The uncertainty surrounding the situation has left many people feeling lost. Robyn Barnard, senior director for refugee advocacy at Human Rights First, explained the widespread confusion. “Imagine how people who entered through that process feel when they’re hearing through their different community chats, rumors, or screenshots that some friends have received notice and others didn’t.”
Some CBP One beneficiaries may still have a year left to file an asylum claim or seek other forms of relief. Meanwhile, other recipients of the cancellation notices are being told to go despite being under temporary protection. A federal judge in Massachusetts temporarily halted deportations for over 500,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, who entered the country under different programs, including those using CBP One.
For Maria, a 48-year-old Nicaraguan woman who arrived in the US through one of these programs, receiving the notice to leave felt like a “bomb.” Speaking from Florida, Maria, who only gave her middle name for fear of being detained and deported, said the news had “paralyzed” her. Despite the order, she plans to keep cleaning houses to support herself and file for asylum.
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Jon King is an experienced journalist with 3 years of experience in the field. With a strong background in investigative reporting, Jon is known for his in-depth coverage of crime news, finance news, local news, and USA news. Currently working with Mikeandjonpodcast, Jon brings his sharp investigative skills, where he provides timely updates and analysis on a wide range of topics. His commitment to delivering accurate and impactful news has earned him a reputation for providing insightful and comprehensive stories that resonate with his audience.
