The term “vibe coding” often carries a negative connotation. It refers to a mindset characterized by a lack of focused thought, where developers heavily rely on AI to generate code from natural language prompts. This approach leads inexperienced programmers to create subpar applications or even undermine their own projects, while seasoned developers can fall prey to basic errors.
However, one individual is exemplifying how AI coding tools can be harnessed for positive change: Rafael Concepcion, a second-generation immigrant and a former professor at Syracuse University. His courageous mission is to oppose Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as detailed in a recent profile in Wired. This endeavor has come at a significant personal cost, including the loss of his university position.
Concepcion has developed multiple mobile apps aimed at countering ICE’s actions. His journey began with an app designed to educate immigrants on their constitutional rights during encounters with ICE agents. To realize this vision, he extensively utilized AI tools such as Cursor, an AI-integrated coding environment, and ElevenLabs, a prominent AI voice synthesizer.
In a vivid depiction, Wired describes how Concepcion dedicated his nights to creating this important work.
“Concepcion did most of his vibe coding between midnight and dawn while parked outside a Home Depot in his electric F-150 pickup,” Wired reported. “He chose this location to connect with the day laborers he aimed to assist, often listening to endless repetitions of songs from [the musical] ‘Hamilton’ as he worked.”
In essence, Concepcion aims to level the playing field. While ICE employs an AI surveillance framework to monitor, intimidate, and deport individuals, Concepcion seeks to empower those at risk.
Realizing that merely informing immigrants of their rights was insufficient in the face of unlawful ICE detentions, he pivoted to developing an app designed to “prevent individuals from falling off a cliff, to stop them from disappearing.”
He named his revamped app “DEICER,” allowing users to report ICE incidents by placing pins on a map. Nearby individuals would receive notifications about these activities, complete with descriptions and images of the ICE agents involved.
According to Wired, the app was downloaded over 3,000 times shortly after its release on the App Store and peaked at 30,000 users. However, this popularity brought a wave of death threats—so numerous that Concepcion began shopping for a bulletproof vest.
He also faced intimidation from the US government. On October 2, the Justice Department demanded that Apple remove apps that “endanger ICE agents in the performance of their duties.” The following day, Concepcion received an email from Apple indicating that his app had been removed due to its supposed intent to provide location information about law enforcement personnel that could lead to harm.
Undeterred, Concepcion launched a web version of his app, continuously developing city-specific iterations of DEICER across the nation. Collaborating with Siembra NC, a North Carolina immigrant rights organization, they created OJO Obrero, a well-structured platform that ensures user reports are verified, contributing to a more reliable resource rather than a chaotic flood of information.
Unfortunately, disaster struck when malicious hackers targeted DEICER and Concepcion’s other anti-ICE initiatives. This resulted in a right-wing frenzy that cast him as part of a “shadow network of anti-ICE scouts” in a segment by Fox News. Amidst this turmoil, US Customs and Border Patrol also revoked his Global Entry status without explanation, as he informed Wired.
Despite these challenges, Concepcion continues his work. His anti-ICE tools are once again operational, and he remains committed to his mission. “There’s something inside me urging me to pursue this path, and I can’t fully articulate it,” he shared with the magazine. “To be honest, I don’t want to explain it. I just want to keep going.”
Learn more about ICE: Top ICE Official Struggling Medically Due to Stress of Being Yelled At
