Somerville non-profit alerts users if ICE agents are spotted nearby

SOMERVILLE, Mass. — A local non-profit organization has created a text alert system that lets people report when immigration agents are spotted knocking on doors in Somerville.

The Welcome Project, the organization responsible for the alert system, said their main goal is to keep families from being torn apart.

"There is fear of mass deportation," said Ben Echevarria, executive director of The Welcome Project. "It's a way for us to be able to help people, if a neighbor sees that somebody needs help."

Those who signed up for the alerts would receive them once a sighting has been confirmed by the organization.

It first starts with someone calling or texting a specific number to report immigration officials in a given location.

Then, the Welcome Project team has to confirm the sighting and send out an alert to anyone signed up to receive them.

"Once the call or text is made, it goes to the executive director and seven others at the Welcome Project," said Echevarria. "They then have to go out and confirm the report, and they send out an alert to everyone who is signed up to receive them, informing them of what's going on."

So far, Echevarria said 100 people have signed up for the alerts, and he hopes another 500 will join soon.

The new system has been lauded by Mayor Joe Curtatone, who said, in part:

"Someday I hope somebody takes the time to write the story of all the people the Welcome Project has stepped in to help in recent years. Their work has been nothing short of heroic."

While it's no secret Somerville is a sanctuary city, not everyone sees the alert system as a positive thing.

Boston 25 News reached out to the local Immigration and Customs Enforcement office, which had a much different reaction. In a statement, they said:

"Using local community organizations to help individuals evade federal immigration law, many of whom may be facing or already convicted of serious criminal charges, does not benefit, but rather endangers communities, making them less safe and putting them at great risk."

Echevarria said his group isn't breaking any laws as they only share information once ICE agents are already present.

"We're finding out when something is happening, so we don't know anything in advance, we have no idea," said Echevarria. "I mean, when ICE comes, they come."

Cox Media Group