LOS ANGELES — In response to mass deportation threats brought on by the Trump administration, the Mexican government has developed an app called 'Consul App Contigo' designed to provide critical support during potential immigration enforcement raids.
Since its launch mid January, the app has had over 185,000 downloads. Among those users, is Diana Enid Moreno Rocha, who says it brings a tiny sense of relief. She’s been living in the U.S. for the past 30 years without a legal status and a possible detention weighs heavy on her.
‘It’s good [app] because you just never know if ICE detains you without being able to call your family and let them know," Moreno Rocha said.
Carlos González Gutiérrez, with the Consul General of Mexico in Los Angeles, explains the app, which only works in the U.S., has an alert button that if pressed for five seconds connects the Mexican national with the Mexican Consulate’s 24/7 operators. They can then provide immediate legal guidance and it also alerts the person’s emergency contacts of the detention.
“This app, its purpose is to get you closer to protection, consular protection services. What does that mean? It means that you can get help, mostly legal advice,” González Gutiérrez said.
Along with the alert button, the app also includes a ‘Know your Rights’ section explaining what actions people can take during encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. It also includes a map of the 53 Mexican Consular offices nationwide and a scheduling feature.
With nearly 1.4 million Mexican immigrants living in Los Angeles alone, González Gutiérrez says they hope the app will become a helpful tool.
“Information about your basic right information that we think you should have in these times of uncertainty,” said González Gutiérrez.
Although, the Trump administration says they are only arresting undocumented people with criminal records, people outside the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles said they are still concerned.
That fear is something González Gutiérrez understands but says they have not been able to confirm mass detentions since President Trump entered office. That is why he warns people shouldn’t make rash decisions based on misinformation.
“Many immigrants are concerned about their immediate future, particularly those who are undocumented. And unfortunately, in this climate of uncertainty, there is a lot of misinformation. There are still many people who get their information from social media and sometimes people tweet or post messages that are not fully backed or that are solidly based on reality,” said González Gutiérrez.
Along with the danger of misinformation, many in this community say they feared downloading the app and putting any information in it.
Still, González Gutiérrez says the app is just one of many resources and advises people to get legal help now instead of waiting until it is too late.
For those who cannot download the app or wish not to, they are urged to call the 24/7 information and assistance hotline at 520-623-7874.
González Gutiérrez says the key message is to remind people that even undocumented immigrants have rights.
It’s a reminder that Moreno Rocha’s son shared with her that the new administration’s hard stance on immigration policy impacts even U.S. Citizens who have undocumented family members or loved ones.
“My son sent me a post about knowing your rights if you are detained but I haven’t read it through yet,” said Moreno Rocha.
She says the fear has always been constant but has increased now.
“My entire family is here, I have nothing over there, I don’t even have any family left there. It was just my dad and he recently passed,” said Moreno Rocha.