In response to mounting concerns over potential mass deportations following Donald Trump’s presidential win, Mexico is developing a mobile app designed to help migrants alert their families and consulates in real time. Spearheaded by Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, the app aims to provide migrants with a vital tool for safety and quick communication during times of crisis.
‘Panic Button’ For Migrants
He explained that the app would feature a button that, when pressed, would send an alert notification to pre-selected relatives and the nearest Mexican consulate. De la Fuente described it as a type of “panic button” to help migrants in distress.
“In case you find yourself in a situation where detention is imminent, you push the alert button, and that sends a signal to the nearest consulate,” he said.
De la Fuente estimates the app will launch in January. He did not specify whether the app includes a deactivation feature to cancel an alert if a person is not detained.
The government has also established a 24-hour call center to assist migrants with their inquiries.
“The foreign affairs secretary was emphatic in pointing out that to deport someone from the United States you need a court order, a final sentence of deportation or removal, and that is where the consular team will be very aware that due process is complied with,” the release said.
Trump’s Migrant Policy
Trump has consistently vowed to initiate mass deportations upon taking office. He has appointed several immigration hard-liners to prominent Cabinet positions, including former Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Tom Homan as “border czar.”
Homan has outlined his approach to mass deportations, emphasizing that efforts will initially focus on removing criminals and national security threats, though he has not ruled out deporting families together.
Migrant Crisis
As of July 2023, an estimated 11.7 million unauthorized migrants are residing in the U.S. without legal immigration status, including approximately 4.6 million from Mexico, according to the Center for Migration Studies.
