LOS ANGELES — For Eric Blandon, the Proyecto Pastoral Guadalupe Homeless Shelter in Boyle Heights has become more than just a temporary residence — it’s a sanctuary.

After fleeing violence in his native Nicaragua, Blandon found refuge at the shelter two months ago. Reflecting on his journey, he expresses deep gratitude.

“I am very thankful because they opened their doors to me,” Blandon said.

His journey to the U.S. was anything but easy. Blandon traveled for over two months, crossing multiple countries before reaching the Mexico-U.S. border in January. Alone, he made the nearly 4,000-mile trek, hoping to apply for asylum legally.

“I waited a month and a half in Mexico,” he recalls, referring to the time he spent trying to secure an appointment through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s One app. 

The mobile application, launched by the U.S. government in 2020, has become the primary tool for migrants waiting in Mexico to start the asylum process. After a month and a half of waiting, Blandon was granted legal entry to the U.S. nearly two months ago. 

The CBP's One app, initially available for migrants in northern and central Mexico, has recently expanded to allow appointments in the southern states of Chiapas and Tabasco. Immigration attorney Alex Galvez notes that this expansion marks significant progress.

“It’s an excellent sign that both the Mexican and U.S. governments are working together to secure a safer route for asylum seekers,” Galvez said. “This expansion allows migrants to apply in a safer way, without having to traverse dangerous parts of Mexico.”

However, even as the CBP's One app expands, another immigration program faces challenges. The Biden administration recently paused the Humanitarian Parole Program, which had allowed up to 30,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to enter the U.S. legally by air each month, provided they had a financial sponsor.

“This has the potential to affect many immigrants and their petitioners here in the U.S.,” Galvez explains. The suspension follows reports of widespread misuse, with some sponsors applying for multiple migrants, raising concerns about fraud.

While the government aims to reduce false parole claims, Galvez warns that the suspension may harm those who were abiding by the law.

As for Blandon, his asylum case is moving forward, but his future remains uncertain. He is just one of many migrants whose fate is tied to the ever-evolving landscape of U.S. immigration policy.