ALMA, the app that helps Latinos alert others when they are in emergency situations involving ICE

A tool to feel prepared, not terrified. With this motto, the Alma app aims to provide the Latino community in the United States with something similar to an emergency button in case they are detained or feel threatened by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. “Increased immigration enforcement has left many immigrant families living with uncertainty and fear. The ALMA App was created to change that,” reads the website of the Salvadoran American Leadership and Education Fund (SALEF).

The app was developed in collaboration with other immigrant rights leaders. “Since its launch on November 25 of this year, approximately 1,000 people have registered,” Jocelyn Duarte, executive director at SALEF, told this newspaper via email. “This reflects the interest and need for a reliable tool to ensure the safety and wellbeing of immigrant families,” she added.

ALMA’s standout feature is an alert button: if approached by ICE agents, the user can open the app, select the “One-Tap Enforcement Alert Button,” and confirm the request. Following this, family members, organizations, and lawyers receive an alert with the specific location of the person who requested assistance. This feature is designed for anyone who feels at risk from uniformed officers or is witnessing excessive force against someone else.

Duarte explains that the app was initially designed to support families in the Los Angeles area. However, it can now be used in other cities. “We are working to expand community collaborations and support networks to ensure that the resources and referrals included in the app also meet the needs of users in other locations,” she says.

ALMA, which stands for Apoyo Legal, Migrante y Alerta (Legal, Migrant and Alert Support), offers help to plan ahead, stay connected, get quick help, access information about each individual’s rights, have important documents on hand — passport, birth certificate, social security card, etc — and know what to do if you are arrested or a loved one has been apprehended.

For example, planning ahead means that families should be clear about who will take care of the children if one of the parents is arrested, have a list of emergency contacts and legal support, and have important documents organized.

“Our organization has supported families affected by immigration actions and has responded through legal advice, community education, and the promotion of policies that protect the rights of immigrants,” says the executive director, concluding that the organization’s commitment is to provide comprehensive support, reliable resources, and guidance to those facing vulnerable or risky situations.

Since Donald Trump returned to the White House and implemented his immigration agenda, ICE has detained 220,000 people as of October 15. More than a third of these individuals have no criminal record, despite claims that the deportations would target murderers, rapists, and gang members. These are the latest figures obtained by the Deportation Data Project at the University of Berkeley through a lawsuit against the government. The figures do not include arrests made by the Border Patrol, which has also been a significant part of the deportation machinery terrorizing migrant communities — the very communities that the ALMA app seeks to provide some relief to.

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