Mexico to launch ‘panic button’ app for migrants facing deportation in US

13 hrs ago

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Lauren Taylor Anchor/Reporter

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor/Reporter), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

The Mexican government plans to introduce a new “panic button” for Mexican migrants facing deportation from the U.S. The announcement comes just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Throughout the campaign and since winning reelection, Trump has promised to implement mass deportations of immigrants who are in the country illegally during his second term.

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Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and her administration have confirmed the development of a mobile app currently in the testing phase.

Juan Ramón de la Fuente, Mexico’s secretary of foreign affairs, also said the public can expect a major app rollout this year.

“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,” De la Fuente said.

The app will alert the nearest Mexican consulate and notify family members of the person facing deportation. Mexican government officials say the feature is designed for individuals facing “imminent detention.”

Officials said that a legal aid program for Mexicans in the U.S. includes more than 300 advisors at 53 consulates. Additional support comes from consultants and law firms.

According to Mexican officials, an estimated 11.5 million Mexicans have legal U.S. residency, while 4.8 million lack legal status or documentation.

“The vulnerable Mexican citizens need to know that they have rights,” Sheinbaum told reporters. “You can’t just deport a person, detain them, take them to the border. There are a series of legal procedures that need to be followed.”

It is unclear when the public will have access to the app.

Tags: Claudia Sheinbaum, Deportation, Donald Trump, Immigration, Mexico, migrants, U.S.-Mexico Border

THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING TO ROLL OUT A NEW “PANIC BUTTON” FOR MEXICAN MIGRANTS WHO ARE IN DANGER OF BEING DEPORTED FROM THE US.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES JUST WEEKS BEFORE PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP IS SET TO BE INAUGURATED – AFTER PROMISING MASS DEPORTATIONS OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WHEN HE TAKES OFFICE FOR HIS SECOND TERM.

MEXICO’S PRESIDENT CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM AND HER ADMINISTRATION ALREADY SAY THEY’VE DEVELOPED A MOBILE APP THAT’S CURRENTLY IN THE TESTING PHASE.

MEXICO’S SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS JUAN RAMÓN DE LA FUENTE ANNOUNCED A MAJOR ROLL OUT IS EXPECTED THIS YEAR.

“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,” DE LA FUENTE SAID.

THE PANIC BUTTON ALERTS THE NEAREST MEXICAN CONSULATE AND CLOSE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE PERSON WHO IS BEING TARGETED. IT’S MEANT TO BE USED BY SOMEONE WHO IS FACING “IMMINENT DETENTION,” ACCORDING TO MEXICAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

THEY ALSO SAY A LEGAL AID PROGRAM FOR MEXICANS IN THE U.S. NOW HAS MORE THAN 300 ADVISORS AT 53 CONSULATES, WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM CONSULTANTS AND LAW FIRMS.

MEXICAN OFFICIALS ESTIMATE 11.5 MILLION MEXICANS HAVE LEGAL U.S. RESIDENCY, WHILE 4.8 MILLION LACK LEGAL STATUS OR DOCUMENTATION.

THE MEXICAN PRESIDENT TELLS REPORTERS VULNERABLE MEXICAN CITIZENS “NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE RIGHTS. YOU CAN’T JUST DEPORT A PERSON, DETAIN THEM, TAKE THEM TO THE BORDER. THERE ARE A SERIES OF LEGAL PROCEDURES THAT NEED TO BE FOLLOWED,”.

DE LA FUENTE SAYS THE APP IS IN THE TESTING PHASE AND IT’S UNCLEAR WHEN IT WILL BE FULLY ROLLED OUT.