Mexican officials say they’re developing a new emergency mobile application that’s meant to aid citizens in the U.S. who fear imminent detention by immigration authorities.

The app, which was announced by Mexico Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente, will go live before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump moves back into the White House later this month. During his election campaign, the former President vowed to carry out mass deportations of Mexican citizens, with his primary target being undocumented residents.

De la Fuente said in a press conference that the app will provide Mexicans with a direct line to consular support during emergencies. It will alert both the nearest consulate and a number of pre-selected family members, and provide real-time updates on their situation to Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“In case you find yourself in a situation where detention is imminent, you push the alert button, and that sends a signal to the nearest consulate,” De la Fuente explained.

The app is a novel blend of human rights advocacy and digital innovation, leveraging GPS-based location sharing and secure, encrypted communications technology to ensure that consular teams are alerted to the user’s status in real-time. Once the alarm button is pushed, it will send a notification to the user’s pre-designated contacts and trigger immediate intervention from Mexico’s consular teams.

De la Fuente said the app is part of a broader strategy that aims to reinforce Mexico’s consular network in the U.S. In addition, the country also plans to deploy 329 legal representatives across its 53 U.S. consulates, who will be tasked with monitoring legal processes during deportations and ensuring they comply with U.S. and international laws.

Trump has pledged to prioritize deportations once he reassumes power, and has said he will focus on individuals with criminal records and those who are designated as a national security risk. However, Trump’s new “border czar”, the former Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Tom Homan, has also said family deportations are possible.

The Foreign Minister also reminded Mexicans that deportations from the U.S. require either a court order or a final deportation ruling, with oversight from the country’s consular teams to ensure due process.

It’s believed that around 11.7 million undocumented residents currently live in the U.S., about 4.8 million of them Mexican nationals. “The key message is to tell our fellow citizens that they are not alone and will not be alone,” De la Fuente said.

Photo: La Coordinación de Estrategia Digital Nacional de la Oficina de la Presidencia de la República