'Coquí' app launches to alert people about ICE raids in the US
Coquí alerts people about ICE raids in the U.S. through citizen reports. She protects migrants without asking for personal information.
Photo of Onur Binay in Unsplash
In the United States, a developer who prefers to be identified only as Peter has created Coquí, a mobile app that allows people to report immigration raids and ICE presence through community collaboration. His motivation: to reclaim the fearless country he remembers, but which many migrants no longer recognize.
The app, which works under the model of crowdsourcing, allows any user to mark the location of immigration operations on a map, upload images, and confirm or delete alerts to avoid panic caused by false reports. Since its official launch two weeks ago, following initial testing in February, Coquí has become a tool for collective protection.
“Essentially, any user can place a pin on the map if they see suspicious activity, a checkpoint, a raid, or an arrest, and can instantly alert others,” Peter explains in an interview with EFE.
Additionally, users can send direct alerts to friends or family, strengthening community networks in the face of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
Coquí: Inspired by solidarity
Peter, who runs an animal shelter in rural upstate New York, says the idea for the app was born from his close relationship with immigrants who work with him caring for horses, goats, rabbits, and ducks. The arrival of the Trump administration and its immigration policies transformed the atmosphere in his community.
“We saw a complete change. Everyone was living in fear, people were afraid to leave their homes,” he says.
The app takes its name from the coquí, a frog native to Puerto Rico that symbolizes unity and resilience, also a tribute to the island where Peter lived for a time.
While the tool is useful for immigrants at risk of detention, Peter clarifies that Coquí is also designed for caring Americans who don't want to see their neighbors live in fear.
"This is for those who miss the country as it used to be, where people didn't live in fear. We want to keep everyone informed," he says.
Boom in Florida
Peter is currently in Miami, where numerous alerts have been registered on the app in recent days. Florida, under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis, has become a bastion of Donald Trump's immigration policies. ICE's acting director, Todd Lyons, told CBS that they are seeking to deport up to one million people a year, in line with the president's promise to carry out the largest mass expulsion operation in the country's history.
“We saw a lot of spots marked on the map in this area, so I came to support the users who are reporting activity,” Peter says.
Independent, community and safe
Coquí doesn't collect personal data, which protects its users. Although it already collaborates with citizen rapid response networks, it remains independent of political parties or organizations. "It's a grassroots movement," its founder emphasizes.
Coquí is committed to protecting and connecting immigrants, reminding them that there is still hope for living without fear in the United States.
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