The Creation of Coquí: A Shield for Immigrant Communities
When Peter Grunthel witnessed friends and family members being arrested by masked federal agents in upstate New York, he knew that action was necessary. Just two days after President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Grunthel brought together community members, rapid response leaders, and activists to create the Coquí app—a real-time alert system designed to protect immigrant communities from sudden enforcement operations. The name of the app is inspired by the coquí frog of Puerto Rico, a symbol of resilience and the power of voice.
The app allows users who spot immigration enforcement activity to drop a location-based pin, notifying everyone within a 5 to 10-mile radius. Other users can confirm reports, share photos, and coordinate safe next steps without revealing their identities or exposing themselves to doxxing.
Grunthel, the CEO of Coquí, explained that the motivation behind the app was the lack of a secure way to warn neighbors about ICE activity. “We began as a hyper-local community shield and are now growing into a national network of protection. The mission stays the same: to be a shield, not a sword,” he said.
Despite this, ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan criticized the app, claiming it could “cause users to go and cause violence.” Grunthel pushed back on these remarks, calling them “reckless and baseless.” He emphasized that there is no evidence of anyone using the app to incite violence. “Our app was built to save lives, not endanger them,” he stated.
Responding to critics who claim the app obstructs immigration enforcement, Grunthel clarified that Coquí simply alerts users to ICE’s presence and does not encourage interference. He stressed that observing, recording, and sharing such information is legal and questioned why community awareness would be perceived as threatening. “If basic community awareness is seen as a threat, then the real question is: what is the system trying to hide?”
How the App Works: Real-Time Alerts and Community Safety
The user experience begins when someone sees ICE circling a neighborhood or conducting active enforcement. That person drops a location-based pin to notify everyone within a five to ten-mile radius. People nearby then confirm the report, share photos, and coordinate safe next steps without exposing their identities. It’s fast, local, and built on trust.
The app ensures privacy and security for users, especially in the face of potential federal scrutiny. It doesn’t collect names, phone numbers, or track device activity. In the next update, the app will automatically scrub metadata from any image uploaded by users. Apple and Google require device IDs when an app sends push notifications, but Coquí does not use them, meaning there is no central database of users. If the feds come knocking, there’s literally nothing to hand over.
Cybersecurity and Privacy Measures
Grunthel emphasized that cybersecurity is a top priority. The app’s architecture minimizes risk, with no personal data collected and encrypted, invite-only group chats called Coqui Communities. There’s no central vault to hack, and the team consults with security experts regularly to pressure test their systems. Their security philosophy is simple: the best way to keep users’ identities safe is by not collecting any of it in the first place.
Expanding Features: Coquí Communities and Allies
New features like Coquí Communities and Coquí Allies strengthen local response networks. Coquí Communities allow users to form smaller, completely sealed, invite-only groups to respond quickly in their immediate area and share important information and best practices. Coquí Allies are local businesses and organizations that act as anchor points, places you can go, people you can trust. Together, they build a decentralized safety network that’s stronger than any single alert.
Future Plans and Legal Challenges
As Coquí expands nationally, the team is focused on growing thoughtfully and with community input, prioritizing areas where demand and trust networks already exist. Grunthel acknowledges potential legal challenges but emphasizes that the app’s design complies with the law and the First Amendment, standing firmly on human dignity.
Personal Stories and Impact
Grunthel shared an anecdote about an asylum-seeking family from Central America. They came with no network, trusting in the generosity of strangers, other immigrants, and the American legal system to keep them safe. A community member recommended they download the Coquí app, which helped them live their lives with less anxiety.
Addressing Criticism and Legal Concerns
Critics argue that the app impedes immigration enforcement, but Grunthel insists that the app doesn’t stop enforcement. It simply alerts people to ICE’s presence. Observing, recording, and sharing what you see is legal. If basic community awareness is seen as a threat, the real question is: What is the system trying to hide?
As Coquí continues to grow, its mission remains clear: to protect vulnerable communities and ensure that dignity and belonging are not partisan ideas, but human ones.