TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — There’s a new app that lets people track immigration and customs enforcement sightings in their communities. This comes as some states take steps to increase their participation in the Trump administration’s mass deportation raids.
In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a new enforcement division with the Florida Highway Patrol that will focus on locating and capturing undocumented immigrants.
DeSantis recently said over 3,000 undocumented immigrants have been arrested in Florida since March. Additionally, he said over 1,000 traffic stops led to immigration apprehensions and more than 160 traffic crashes involved arrests of undocumented immigrants.
But immigrant advocates and critics alike say the push to bring even more anti-immigrant enforcement is causing unnecessary stress for legal immigrants and even non-immigrants.
In response to the increased threat of ICE, many Americans have begun using “Coqui,” a live map-based community alert app. People can bookmark things like ICE and police sightings. The posts are anonymous and rely on community reports.
Coqui, per its Apple App Store listing, also allows users to post in either English or Spanish.
User markers on the map will remain visible for two days before disappearing, and users can create up to five markers per day, according to Coqui’s website.
Coqui additionally offers advice for migrants who encounter ICE.
“We need to see if [Coqui] is working for people,” Florida-based migrant advocate Ana Lamb told Nexstar’s WFLA. “If we can manage and use this correctly and accurate, if possible, that will be a lot of help.”
She says ultimately, something is needed to help protect all immigrants afraid of being picked up by ICE.
“What Governor DeSantis was saying is like escalating to another level,” said Lamb. “There is a concern there because there is a lot of racial profiling.”
The Department of Homeland Security also has an app where you can voluntarily self-deport. Lamb said every situation is different, so she advises people to consult with a lawyer before making that decision.
Para encontrar más información sobre los derechos de los inmigrantes aquí. To find out more information about immigrants’ rights, regardless of status, visit the American Civil Liberties Union.
