Mexico to launch app with panic button for migrants facing detention in US

Mexico is set to launch a mobile app equipped with a “panic button” to help its citizens in the US alert nearby consulates and family members in case of detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The app, currently in its testing phase, is expected to roll out in January, said Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Secretary Juan Ramon de la Fuente.

There are about 38.4 million Mexicans in the United States. Of them, around 4.8 million are undocumented migrants, according to Mexican government data.

“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.

This move comes as US President-elect Donald Trump pledged to carry out the largest deportation in American history once he assumes office on January 20, 2025. The ICE has already compiled a list of approximately 1.5 million individuals marked for deportation.

Apart from the app, the Mexican government has established a 24-hour call centre to address queries of migrants, according to the New York Post.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has instructed officials to focus on community engagement, reassuring citizens that they are not alone.

“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.

As per Trump’s deportation plan, which will be led by former ICE director Tom Homan, migrants with criminal histories and final deportation orders will be targeted initially. Homan said his aim was to expand the detention capacity to hold 100,000 detainees at a time.

Mexico has also set up shelters along its northern border to receive deported migrants holding Mexican citizenship.

TRUMP VS MEXICAN PRESIDENT ON DEPORTATION

However, there is confusion surrounding Mexico’s stance on migration, with Trump claiming Sheinbaum agreed to “stop migration” through Mexico to the US.

“She has agreed to stop migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our southern border,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Sheinbaum disputed this, stating that Mexico’s position was to build bridges between governments and peoples, rather than closing borders.

“In our conversation with President Trump, I explained to him the comprehensive strategy that Mexico has followed to address the migration phenomenon, respecting human rights. Thanks to this, migrants and caravans are assisted before they reach the border. We reiterate that Mexico’s position is not to close borders but to build bridges between governments and between peoples,” the Mexican President wrote on X.