SAN YSIDRO - A controversial new cell phone application aimed at helping illegal immigrants safely cross the border is raising eyebrows. The app guides immigrants through dangerous terrains.
There's an app for everything now a days, but this one is certainly unique. A UCSD associate professor has come up with the Transborder Immigrant Tool.
Enrique Morones is the President of Border Angels. A group focused on helping immigrants in dire need during their rugged trips. Morones knows the professor behind the web-based technology - - Ricardo Dominguez.
Morones said, "It's going to be some sort of a device that would let people know where is the nearest road, where the nearest church, nearest border patrol station, possibly even some water."
There are some groups not happy with the app.
Barbara Coe founder of California Coalition for Immigration reform told the Orange County Register. "The (professor) is aiding and abetting criminal activity. He should be arrested and prosecuted."
The app would especially come in handy for immigrants right now. Cold days like the one we saw on Saturday where snow blasted the mountains east of the 8 would make the app particularly useful.
Cesario Pulga knows all too well of the journey. He's made it through.
Pulga said, "If a dog bites you what are you going to do out there. If you get lost. Back in the day you get lost, and it was a death sentence."
It's hard to imagine an immigrant entering this country illegally would have the means to afford such a tool - -but Pulga believes they'd have it.
Pulga said, "There are people who sell their horses, cows, animals to come here. To have a better life. Yes they'd buy a tool like that to make it."
