About Alumbra
A Light in the Darkness
Alumbra is a safety and rights awareness app designed to protect immigrant communities through emergency alerts, legal information, and community resources.
Our Mission
To provide essential safety tools and legal rights information to immigrant communities, ensuring everyone has access to critical resources when they need them most.
Key Features
Emergency Alerts
Instant emergency notifications to trusted contacts with location information
Know Your Rights
Comprehensive legal information and guidance for encounters with law enforcement
Multi-Language Support
Available in 8 languages to serve diverse immigrant communities
Privacy Protection
Secure, encrypted data storage with optional stealth mode features
Why This App Exists
On "Illegality" as a Social Construct
The concept of "illegal" when applied to human beings is a social construct—a tool of power that determines who gets to belong and who doesn't. No human being is illegal. People may lack the proper documentation as defined by current laws, but this doesn't diminish their inherent worth or their right to safety and dignity.
Throughout history, laws have been used to exclude and marginalize communities. What was once "illegal" for women (voting), or for interracial couples (marriage), or for workers (organizing), we now recognize as fundamental rights. Immigration status is often determined by circumstances beyond individual control—wars, economic instability, family separation, or simply being born on the "wrong" side of an arbitrary line.
When we accept that some people are "illegal," we create a vulnerable class of humans who can be exploited, abused, and dehumanized with impunity. This serves those who benefit from cheap labor, political scapegoating, and maintaining systems of inequality.
What Drives This Work
I created this app because I believe in the fundamental principle that all people deserve safety, dignity, and the right to exist without fear. When I see families torn apart, workers exploited because they can't report abuse, or children afraid to go to school, I see the human cost of treating people as "illegal."
Technology should serve humanity's highest values—compassion, justice, protection of the vulnerable. Every feature in this app is designed with the understanding that the people using it are not statistics or policy problems, but human beings with families, dreams, and the same fundamental needs for safety that we all share.
This work is driven by the belief that true security comes not from walls or enforcement, but from communities where everyone can live with dignity. When we protect the most vulnerable among us, we create a more just and secure society for everyone.
Every line of code, every safety feature, every translation is an act of resistance against dehumanization. It's a small way of saying: you matter, you belong, you deserve protection, and you are not alone.
Our Shared Humanity
We are all connected by our shared humanity. The safety and dignity of each person affects the moral fabric of our entire society. When we stand with those who are most vulnerable, we affirm the values that make us human: compassion, justice, and the recognition that every person has inherent worth that no law or border can diminish.
Technical Approach
Privacy by Design
Safety Features
Why Progressive Web App? By building this as a PWA instead of a traditional app store application, we ensure that no corporation or government can restrict access to these safety tools. The app installs directly from the web, works offline, and can't be removed from app stores because it's not dependent on them.
Privacy & Security
No Data Collection
We don't collect, store, or transmit your personal data to external servers. Everything stays on your device.
Local Storage: All data is stored locally on your device for maximum privacy and security
No Tracking: No tracking, analytics, or third-party data sharing of any kind
Open Source: Open source code available for security auditing and transparency
Stealth Options: Optional stealth mode features to protect your privacy during sensitive situations
Support This Work
Creating and maintaining this safety app takes time, resources, and ongoing commitment. If Alumbra has helped you or someone you know, please consider supporting this work so we can continue improving the app and keeping it free for everyone who needs it.
Why Support Matters
- • Keeps the app completely free for users
- • Funds new safety features and improvements
- • Supports translation into more languages
- • Enables partnerships with legal aid organizations
- • Maintains independence from corporate interests
Every contribution, no matter how small, helps keep this safety tool available for those who need it most.
Your donation supports the continued development of free safety tools for immigrant communities.
Community & Support
Get Help
If you need immediate assistance, contact local legal aid organizations or immigrant rights groups in your area.
This app provides general information and should not be considered legal advice. Always consult with qualified legal professionals for specific situations.
Community Resources
Connect with local immigrant support networks, legal aid societies, and advocacy organizations.
Available in multiple languages to serve diverse communities