What Is Mexico’s Panic Button App for Migrants?

A smartphone app featuring a “panic button” will be released by Mexico to assist its residents in the United States in notifying family members and local consulates in the event that they are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Secretary Juan Ramon de la Fuente, the software which is already undergoing testing, is anticipated to launch in this month.

“Starting in January, Mexico will launch an emergency mobile app that allows Mexicans to instantly alert their nearest consulate when facing immigration enforcement actions,” the Mexican Foreign Affairs Secretary said in a press conference.

The Mexican population in the United States is approximately 38.4 million. According to figures from the Mexican government around 4.8 million of them are unauthorized migrants.

This action follows Donald Trump’s promise to execute the greatest deportation in American history when he takes office on January 20th 2025. ICE currently has a list of almost 1.5 million people who have been designated for deportation.

In addition to the app, the Mexican government has also set up a 24 hour call center to answer migrant inquiries. 

Reassuring locals that they are not alone, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has directed officials to concentrate on community participation. “I have personally attended several open meetings where the key message is to tell our fellow citizens that they are not alone and will not be alone,” de la Fuente said.

The first targets of Trump’s deportation strategy which will be headed by former ICE director Tom Homan will be migrants with criminal records and final deportation orders. According to Homan, he wants to increase the detention facility’s ability to accommodate 100,000 inmates at once. In order to accommodate deported migrants who are citizens of Mexico. Mexico has also established shelters along its northern border.

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