Mexico launches app for migrants facing US detention

Mexico is developing an app that will allow migrants to inform relatives and local consulates if they are in danger of being arrested and detained by the U.S. immigration department.

Diaspora Digital Media understands that the development is sequel to President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to carry out mass deportations after his swearing-in on January 20.

The app is ready for small-scale testing and “appears to be working very well,” said Juan Ramón de la Fuente, Mexico’s secretary of foreign affairs.

According to him, the app would allow users to press a tab that would send an alert notification to previously chosen relatives and the nearest Mexican consulate.

De la Fuente described it as a sort of panic button.

“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.

U.S. authorities are obliged to give notice to home-country consulates when a foreign citizen is detained.

Mexico says it has beefed up consular staff and legal aid to help migrants in the legal process related to deportation.

De la Fuente expects the app to be rolled out in January.

He didn’t say whether the app has a de-activation tab that would allow someone to rescind an alert if they weren’t really detained.

The government says it has also set up a call centre staffed 24 hours a day to answer migrants’ questions.

The Mexican government estimates there are 11.5 million migrants with some form of legal residency in the United States, and 4.8 million without legal residency or proper documents.

US-Mexico Migrant Problem

The US-Mexico migrant crisis has been a longstanding issue, with thousands of migrants and asylum seekers arriving at the border seeking entry into the United States.

Many of these individuals are fleeing violence, poverty, and instability in their home countries, particularly in Central America.

The crisis has led to overcrowding at border facilities, family separations, and humanitarian concerns, including migrant deaths and human trafficking.

To address the crisis, the US government has implemented various policies, including border wall construction, the “Remain in Mexico” policy, and increased border security measures.

However, these policies have been met with controversy and criticism.

The Joe Biden administration has taken steps to reverse some of these policies, but a comprehensive solution to the crisis remains elusive.

How Trump dealt with the problem

During his presidency, Trump implemented policies aimed at reducing migration from Mexico and Central America, including the construction of a border wall and the enforcement of a “zero-tolerance” policy that led to the separation of thousands of migrant families.

One of the most notable aspects of Trump’s migration policy was the border wall. Trump had promised to build a wall along the US-Mexico border during his presidential campaign, and he followed through on this promise, allocating billions of dollars in funding for the project.

However, the wall was not the only aspect of Trump’s migration policy.

He also implemented a “zero-tolerance” policy, which involved the prosecution of all individuals caught crossing the border illegally, including those seeking asylum.

This policy led to the separation of thousands of migrant families, with children being taken from their parents and placed in detention centers.

Trump’s policies were widely criticized by human rights groups and Democrats, who argued that they were inhumane and violated international law.

The policies also led to a significant increase in migration-related arrests and deportations.

In addition to these policies, Trump also took steps to limit asylum claims and restrict the entry of migrants into the US.

He implemented a policy known as “Remain in Mexico,” which required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims were processed, rather than allowing them to enter the US.

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