Mexico launches alert app for immigrants at risk of arrest in the U.S
Mexico’s president is more determined than ever to protect her citizens living in the United States, especially in the Trump era.
The Mexican government has just announced the creation of a mobile app designed to help Mexican migrants facing possible detention by U.S. immigration agents, according to the Associated Press.
This initiative responds to President-elect Donald Trump’s stated intention to carry out mass deportations of illegal immigrants to the United States.
Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente outlined the app’s features at a press conference.
“If you’re about to be arrested, you press an alert button that sends a signal to the nearest consulate,” he said.
The app also alerts the detainee’s family, as well as the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to ensure timely support and intervention.
Scheduled for launch in January, the app illustrates Mexico’s proactive approach to supporting its citizens abroad.
According to data from the Pew Research Center, there are currently around four million undocumented Mexican migrants in the United States.
In addition to its 50 consulates across the U.S., Mexico is working with other countries, including Guatemala and Honduras, to develop contingency plans for potential deportations, reports the Associated Press.
De la Fuente also announced a forthcoming ministerial meeting involving several countries hosting significant numbers of migrants, to address the challenges posed by Trump’s planned policies.
Mr. Trump, who has promised to declare a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, calls the influx of migrants an “invasion”. In particular, he plans to deport millions of people without residence documents.
For her part, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum highlighted her government’s efforts to draft a document highlighting the essential contributions of Mexican workers to the US economy.
For more details, read the original Associated Press report: Mexico plans alert app for migrants facing arrest in US.