Mexico is developing an app called “Alert Button” that will allow migrants in the U.S. to alert their family members and local consulates if they are facing deportation, in anticipation of mass deportations of illegal migrants expected under President-elect Trump’s administration. The app is expected to be available in January and will allow users to send alert notifications to chosen relatives and the nearest Mexican consulate, of which there are 53 in the U.S. The Mexican government plans to ensure that all Mexican citizens are given due process in the U.S. before potentially being ejected from the country.
The Mexican government estimates that there are 11.5 million migrants with some form of legal residency in the United States and 4.8 million without legal residency or proper documents, many of whom may be targeted by the new Trump administration. Secretary of Foreign Affairs Juan Ramón de la Fuente stated that the app, which has been rolled out for small-scale testing and appears to be working well, is a sort of panic button to signal the nearest consulate in case of imminent detention. The Mexican government has also hired 329 legal representatives to ensure that Mexicans facing deportation receive due process and are properly informed of their rights.
U.S. authorities are required to notify home-country consulates when a foreign citizen is detained, and Mexico has implemented a call center staffed 24 hours a day to answer migrants’ questions and educate them on their rights ahead of possible arrests. The Mexican government has pledged to defend the human rights of its citizens in the U.S. in compliance with international law, emphasizing that Mexicans are not alone and have the support of a consular network. The foreign minister stated that in order to deport someone from the U.S., a court order or removal ruling is needed, and the consular team will ensure that due process is followed.
Under the Biden-Harris administration, the U.S. has seen an unprecedented number of illegal migrants crossing its borders. The number of illegal immigrants on ICE’s non-detained docket has more than doubled since the end of the Trump administration, with nearly 7.7 million recorded. ICE deported 271,484 illegal immigrants to 192 different countries in fiscal year 2024, with a significant increase from previous years. Trump had proposed a 25% tariff on imported goods from Mexico over immigration issues, causing tension with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Sheinbaum stated that her government has already been clamping down on migrants crossing into the U.S.
The annual ICE report from October reveals a significant increase in deportations under the Biden-Harris administration compared to previous years. In FY 2024, there were more than 271,000 deportations, with over 32% having criminal histories and 237 known or suspected terrorists. This marks a substantial increase from previous years, signaling a tougher stance on immigration enforcement. The Mexican government’s efforts to support its citizens in the U.S. facing deportation come amid heightened scrutiny and increased deportations under the current administration.
