The alert button ConsulApp With Youa phone application created by the Mexican government for undocumented Mexican immigrants to report possible detention to family members and consulates, faces its own challenges, as it can only be used on Android phones at the moment.
“For now it only works on Android phones, but we hope that in the coming days it will be activated on Apple phones,” said Carlos González Gutiérrez, consul general of Mexico in Los Angeles.
He recalled that the alert button is an additional mechanism of the many created by the Mexican government so that migrants can come into contact with them.
“ConsulApp With You It is an application that is part of the menu of options offered by the Mexican government. It is a mistake to call it a panic button because it is not a button for help to arrive immediately but rather a button to contact the consular network.”
He stressed that it is useful for those who use their smartphone to solve their daily lives, and are used to doing it through apps.
“In fact, when you get the app, you have to register, create a profile and add emergency contacts. People can update that application according to their needs to include family members they want to contact in case of an immigration emergency,” said the consul.
He noted that another option to report any situation is to call the Information and Assistance Center for Mexican People (CIAM) at 520-623-7874, which operates from Tucson 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Through CIAM, we receive reports of people lost in the desert, which allows us to mobilize border patrol rescue units as well as other requests for urgent assistance. There are also our social networks and WhatsApp accounts because we try to be as accessible as possible because we are aware that the good consul is an accessible consul.”
The Mexican diplomat mentioned that the migrant protection strategy under the Trump era has included reinforcing visits to migrant detention centers in the city and county of Los Angeles.
“We are also monitoring social networks and the media. Part of our work will be to combat misinformation. “We are experiencing a favorable environment for people to promote misinformation.”
He advised that one must first verify and validate what one hears about possible raids.
“The first thing is to get reliable information and turn to official sources such as the Mexican Consulate. Our job is to provide people with information so that they can make an informed decision.”
He stressed that his message to the Mexican immigrant community is not to rush and turn to official sources of information.
But he also said that they should keep their documents current and in a safe place, and recommended that they obtain dual nationality for children born in the United States.
“A third piece of advice is to analyze your prospects for immigration regularization in the future, based on a conversation with an expert. In that, the consulate can help them have a first diagnostic session with an immigration lawyer.”
He emphasized that it is very important that if they are Mexicans and are detained, they know that they have the right to remain silent, contact their lawyer, and the Mexican Consulate.
“My last advice is that you do not sign any document without the presence of a lawyer; “Do not open the door of your home if an officer knocks on your door and does not present a search warrant.”
Do not spread false information
The migrant representative for California, Maribel Solache, said that migrant legislators are in unity with the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum and Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente on issues of migrant protection.
“In Mexico these are times of women and migrants, and we are supporting with everything. The only thing we ask of our countrymen is that they do not spread information about raids and migration operations that are not proven.”
Other measures
The alert button consists of sending a signal to the family members that the migrant has previously registered and to the nearest consulate.
Other measures that the Mexican government has taken to protect migrants are the hiring of 329 lawyers to provide legal assistance, increasing presence in migrant detention and processing centers; and streamline administrative procedures at consulates.