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“Why don’t they just do it the right way?”

That question often arises in conversations about immigration, and this episode breaks it down. Because the truth is: there is no single immigration “line,” just a maze of inconsistent rules, long wait times, and constantly shifting policies that leave millions in limbo.

From family visas that take decades to asylum systems that have been digitally locked behind broken apps, this episode walks you through the hard truth of what “following the process” really looks like and who gets punished when the process gets erased.

What You’ll Learn

• Why the idea of a simple immigration “line” is a myth
• What happened to the CBP One app, and how it was turned into CBP Home
• Why current and former asylum seekers are receiving removal notices despite following the rules
• How the phrase “I did it the right way” can weaponize trauma instead of defending fairness
• Who benefits from a system built on confusion, bureaucracy, and apathy

Resources & Sources Mentioned

• CBP One App Official Update – CBP.gov
• Overview of CBP Home and Migrant Self-Reporting
• American Immigration Council – U.S. Immigration System Backlogs
• Cultish by Amanda Montell – understanding groupthink, language, and the myth of easy answers

Call to Action

• Share this episode with someone who’s repeated the “just get in line” myth
• Ask your local officials how many people in your district are in immigration backlogs
• Support legal aid groups helping migrants misled by app-based parole systems
• Follow, rate, and review Have a Cup of Johanny to help others find these conversations

Connect With Me

Threads & Instagram: @haveacupofjohanny

 TikTok: @haveacupofjohanny

 Join the newsletter: https://haveacupofjohanny.com/sign-up-for-our-newsletter/

 Check out my books: https://haveacupofjohanny.com/shop/

Support the show

If today’s episode hit you in the chest the way it hit me, don’t just walk away—walk toward something that reflects you.

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It’s about a Dominican-American bruja who’s been running from herself her whole life until ancestral magic, generational wounds, and a haunted-ass hill force her to face the truth.

If you’ve ever felt “too much,” “not enough,” or like you don’t fit anywhere, you’re exactly who this story was written for.

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Because becoming who you are is the bravest kind of magic.