Jocelyn Duarte, director of SALEF, during the presentation of ALMA.
Community efforts have introduced a new smartphone app designed to provide information and security in case of an emergency in Los Angeles.
The tool, known as ALMA (Migrant Legal Support Alert), also includes a locator feature so families can find out where ICE has taken their loved ones.
The Salvadoran American Leadership and Education Fund (SALEF) joined community leaders to showcase new technology resources to assist families at risk of immigration enforcement actions.
“The app has several functions, including helping people learn about their rights, creating family emergency plans in case of separation, and providing an alert button to notify a designated contact person if they are detained by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement),” said Jocelyn Duarte, director of SALEF.
The application guides users through family safety planning tools and provides helpful information. It also stands out for its one-tap alert button, which notifies chosen emergency contacts and shares the user’s GPS location.
Duarte added that, in addition to these features, SALEF offers legal, health, and emotional support resources in Los Angeles. They work with two attorneys and partner with organizations such as Rescue and the Immigrant Defenders Law Center to assist the immigrant community with any support they may need.
The app is available on the Apple App Store, Google Play, and other app marketplaces. Users can simply search for “ALMA” or “SALEF” to download it for free.
“There are different apps to help immigrants in various ways. The ALMA app expands the work we already do and helps us respond to raids, ensuring that our families have an emergency plan, that they are prepared in case of detention or deportation, and that they don’t make decisions in moments of crisis,” Duarte told the newspaper La Opinión.
