Alisa Reznick/KJZZ

Posters explaining how CBP One works for asylum applications were posted at a quiet DeConcini Port of Entry just ahead of the ending of Title 42 on May 11, 2023.

Southern Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva and other House Democrats are asking the Biden administration to make reforms to CBP One — the government-run app for asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. 

CBP One is available at a handful of ports of entry border-wide. Asylum seekers vie for a fixed number of daily appointments through the app to apply to enter the U.S.

The program had its full rollout last spring — when pandemic-era border restrictions came to an end. Barring rare exceptions, it's now the only way to ask for asylum at a port of entry. 

In a letter to Homeland Security, Grijalva and 26 other representatives say while some improvements have been made since last year, other problems persist. 

They say making the app available in just a few ports of entry is creating long wait times that force asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for months, where they often face additional security threats. They also cite language and accessibility barriers and want a response by April 15.