McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — The State of Texas’ iWatchTexas Community Reporting System app has been updated to allow the reporting of suspicious activities by foreign nationals.
The Texas Department of Public Safety this week announced the change that allows individuals to indicate if their concern is related to foreign influence when submitting a report via the app.
But “the feature is only good if we use it,” DPS Col. Freeman Martin said in a statement.
“Speak up if you see suspicious behavior or activity — including any signs of intimidation or pressure from a hostile government outside of the United States. This all adds up to addressing security threats both at home and abroad,” Martin said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last year directed DPS to update the iWatchTexas app to include this feature.
“This new iWatchTexas feature will allow Texans to report any threats from hostile foreign adversaries who wish to undermine the public safety and national security of Texas. I encourage anyone who experiences or observes harassment, threats of violence or coercion to report the attempts directly to the iWatchTexas app or call 844-643-2251. Texas will continue to do everything we can to protect Texans from the unlawful and repressive actions of the Chinese Communist Party and other hostile foreign actors,” Abbott said.
Martin said the new feature helps DPS to “quickly address a wider range of homeland security threats facing our state, making us safer.”
A page on the app title “What Should I Report?” directs users for their “attention and awareness of suspicious behavior or activity.” It goes on to say “preparations for terrorist attacks are often seen, but not always reported. When in doubt, report suspicious activity via iWatchTexas or contact the police.”
The app allows photos to be uploaded and users can leave anonymous tips. It asks whether the activity occurred at a school or workplace, the number of people and vehicles involved and whether law enforcement has been called.
A separate page asks: “Does this potentially involve a foreign government or an entity acting on behalf of a foreign government?”
It asks whether the person was attempting “to conceal their behavior?” and to rate how suspicious the activity appeared.
DPS says all reports are confidential and the app is not designed to report emergencies. For emergencies, the public is urged to call 911.
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.
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