Mexico developing app allowing citizens to send alert if detained in US

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

MEXICAN OFFICIALS SAY — THEY’RE CREATING A CELLPHONE APP THEIR CITIZENS CAN USE —

TO ALERT THEIR FAMILIES AND LOCAL CONSULATE IF THEY’VE BEEN DETAINED BY U-S IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES.

THE MOVE ANNOUNCED FRIDAY — IS IN RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP’S VOW —

TO START MASS DEPORTATIONS AFTER HE’S INAUGURATED ON JANUARY 20TH.

MEXICAN OFFICIALS SAY THE APP IS UNDERGOING SMALL-SCALE TESTING AND IS “WORKING VERY WELL.”

THE APP WOULD ALLOW USERS TO PRESS A TAB — SENDING A NOTIFICATION TO PRE-SELECTED RELATIVES AND THE NEAREST MEXICAN CONSULATE.

THE APP IS SET TO BE AVAILABLE SOMETIME NEXT MONTH.

U-S LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ALREADY REQUIRED TO GIVE NOTICE TO THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN OF A MIGRANT WHEN A PERSON IS DETAINED.

THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT ALSO NOTES, IT HAS A 24-HOUR CALL CENTER TO ANSWER QUESTIONS MIGRANTS MAY HAVE.

THE COUNTRY HAS ALSO ADDED CONSULAR STAFF IN PREPARATION FOR DEPORTATIONS AND TO HELP MIGRANTS WITH THE LEGAL PROCESS.

SOME HAVE COMPARED THE APP TO A PANIC BUTTON FOR MIGRANTS.

IT COULD ALSO POTENTIALLY SERVE AS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE C-B-P ONE APP —

WHICH PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP HAS PROMISED TO END.

THE APP FROM D-H-S ALLOWS MIGRANTS TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH U-S IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS FOR POTENTIAL ASYLUM.

IT WAS ROLLED OUT BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IN JANUARY OF LAST YEAR —

TO “REDUCE WAIT TIMES AND CROWDS AT U-S PORTS OF ENTRY.”

TRUMP VOWED TO END THE APP CLAIMING IT’S BEING USED TO SMUGGLE MIGRANTS INTO THE U-S.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.