In a statement posted online, Donald Trump has vowed to dismantle what he claims is a phone application developed under President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ administration to facilitate illegal immigration.
Trump singled out Harris, alleging that her office is directly involved in the creation of what he called a “Phone App for Smuggling” migrants into the U.S.
In the statement posted to his Truth Social account, he wrote: “As President I will immediately end the migrant invasion of America. We will stop all migrant flights, end all illegal entries, terminate the Kamala phone app for smuggling illegals (CBP One App), revoke deportation immunity, suspend refugee resettlement, and return Kamala’s illegal migrants to their home countries (also known as remigration). I will save our cities and towns in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and all across America. MAGA2024!”
Trump pointed to what he sees as an overall failure of the administration’s immigration policies. He has repeatedly accused Biden and Harris, who was appointed to oversee border-related issues, of weakening security and creating incentives for illegal immigration.
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The app that Trump referred to is the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) mobile application CBP One, launched in 2020. It is available on the Apple App and Google Play stores.
As stated on the CBP website: “CBP One is a mobile application that serves as a single portal to a variety of CBP services. Through a series of guided questions, the app directs each type of user to the appropriate services based on their needs.
“As part of CBP’s comprehensive effort to improve the security of our nation’s borders while enhancing legitimate travel and trade, CBP One provides increased accessibility and transparency to some of CBP’s most utilized services.”
Newsweek reached out to the CBP on Sunday via email for comment.
Critics argue that Trump’s statement is another attempt to stoke anti-immigration sentiments ahead of the 2024 presidential election, for which he is the Republican nominee.
Harris has yet to publicly respond to the allegations, though her office has previously stated that their focus is on addressing the root causes of migration, such as poverty and violence, rather than promoting illegal immigration.
Newsweek contacted the Harris campaign via email on Sunday for comment.
Immigration continues to be a key issue in American politics, and Trump’s comments are likely to rally his base, while intensifying the debate around border security. As the 2024 election nears, the Republican‘s aggressive stance on the subject is expected to remain a cornerstone of his campaign.