SWFL

President Trump’s effort to remove undocumented immigrants from this country has left millions of people in fear for their future here within the States. However, there are mobile apps that could help keep immigrants from being deported.

 

These apps are designed to provide, teach and help undocumented immigrants about safety measures, about knowledge of the law and about their rights when dealing with law enforcement. These apps do not compromise a user’s privacy.

 

For example, Notifica is one of the most popular apps for undocumented because it’s an app that alerts important contacts, such as close friends, family and immigration lawyers, with one touch of a button. It sends a personal message if an undocumented immigrant is in contact with law enforcement and they feel unsafe. The alert is designed to warn the contacts that the person may be in custody of law enforcement and what measures to take next.

 

When operating Notifica, the app has three directories: Your Rights, the Send tab and the Contacts tabs. The “Your Rights” tab has useful information on what to do if ICE comes to your front door.

 

For example, it states not to open the door and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cannot come in without a signed warrant by a criminal court judge. If they have permission to enter, the app suggests remaining silent, not signing any paperwork without an attorney present and documenting and reporting any information you can, such as badge numbers, the number of agents present, time of arrival and other factors. Finally, it states to defend your rights by hiring a trustworthy attorney and challenge options to fight the case.

 

The “Contacts” tab allows you add unlimited contacts, as needed, with personal messages to each person. The app suggests sending the notification to loved ones with close relations, child services, if applicable, and other contacts to inform them of the person’s safety. A confirmation page is displayed that the alerts have been sent. It then recommends the user to review the rights section, if possible, and for privacy and protection, the contacts’ information has automatically been deleted.

 

Once used, the user can log back into the app with the phone number and passcode associated with it. The user has to enter their contacts’ information again, with personal messages. Nothing automatically saves with this app, which benefits the safety of the person and their contacts, especially if their family is undocumented as well.

 

Notifica was developed by the largest immigrant youth-led network called United We Dream (UWD). This team of young individuals works together to help spread awareness and make a voice for the voiceless of undocumented immigrants who fear deportation here in the States. Their mission is to empower people to develop their own leadership, develop organization skills and develop their own campaigns to fight for justice and dignity for immigrants and all people. They are able to achieve their youth-led campaigns at the local, state and federal level.

 

Adrian Reyna is the Director of Membership and Technology Strategies for UWD and helped developed Notifica. Reyna was born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, and moved to Humble, Texas, outside of Houston, with his two sisters and parents as undocumented immigrants.

 

We reached out to Reyna and UWD to learn more about how the app was developed, but there was no response. However, we were able to research and find his 2017 interview with Rolling Stone of how his life transpired around the justice and rights of undocumented immigrants.

 

Reyna told Rolling Stone how he recalls knowing what it feels like to live in a country as an undocumented immigrant.

 

“There’s no way to become documented just by the stroke of a pen,” Reyna said. “You have to be petitioned, either through employment or a family member who’s a U.S. citizen, which is the case with my parents.”

 

According to his Rolling Stone interview, Reyna was protected by Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which allowed him not to worry about his residential status within the States. However, he soon realized the troubles of low-income families who feared deportation. He has dedicated his life to helping undocumented immigrants, along with UWD, to develop technology and resources, such as Notifica, to keep families and loved ones knowledgeable.

 

“If you have kids, make sure you have a point person. If you’re someone who needs medical attention, have somebody who can let your doctor know you’re away from your medication,” Reyna said. “We know a lot of individuals who get detained, they’re panicked and they go days without their medication. The app will help individuals think of these things way ahead of time before they happen and reduce the action that someone has to take in a moment to one simple thing.”

 

However, there is always an opposing side to anything.

 

Austin Bacon is a former student at Florida Gulf Coast University and a Trump supporter. In a recent interview, Bacon said he’s against the app and he feels it hides immigrants from being caught by law enforcement and deported back to their country.

 

“I like that it at least let’s the family know that something is happening, but it’s like helping them hide from the cops,” Bacon said. “It almost feels like they’re running.”

 

Bacon grew up in Fort Myers, Florida and said he feels he grew up with a lot of undocumented immigrants surrounding him in school. He said he doesn’t feel as though undocumented immigrants should be able to reside in this country because they are stealing all the jobs, especially since President Trump fixed the unemployment rate.

 

“I think illegal aliens want to come here for our education and try to find ways to stay,” Bacon said. “However, I think once they get their education, they should return to their land and build their home and family there. Americans already have to deal with aliens taking our jobs, so they don’t need to steal our country too.”

 

As of March 2018, Notifica has over 1000 downloads and continues to surface in the media as a helpful tool for undocumented immigrants. The app is for both English and Spanish language barriers and can be downloaded on an Android or iPhone. There is no cost for the app and for the texting services.

 

Click here for more helpful links for undocumented immigrants.