Rafael Concepcion, a second-generation immigrant and professor at Syracuse University, found himself at the epicentre of a moral awakening after visiting a local Mexican grocery store. Maria Hernandez’s generous offer to deliver food to those too scared of ICE to leave their homes struck a chord with Concepcion, leading him to pen an op-ed in the Syracuse Post-Standard.

Driven by a sense of duty and a hyper-fixation on his project, Concepcion developed DEICER, a mobile app designed to alert immigrants about ICE activities. His ambitions shifted when he learned that his friend’s son was detained, prompting him to build an even more aggressive tool capable of organizing flash protests or guiding users to safety.

Concepcion submitted DEICER to the App Store, braving fears of government interference. With tools like DEICER and others such as ICEBlock and Stop ICE, activists hope to counteract the technological edge that ICE holds, but the question remains: can these efforts truly make a difference?

The rise of these applications highlights the lengths people will go to protect their fellow immigrants from deportation. Yet, Concepcion’s journey also raises questions about the ethics and practicality of such activism in the face of overwhelming state power.