Press Releases

LOS ANGELES, CA — Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) today recognized Julian Miramontes, an eighth-grade student at El Sereno Middle School, as the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for California’s 34th District, honoring his app “Know Your Rights / Conozca Sus Derechos,” which helps immigrant families understand their legal rights during immigration enforcement encounters.

Julian developed the app after witnessing the fear and uncertainty immigration raids created in his community. Designed to be simple and accessible, the app provides guidance on what to do and what rights individuals have when confronted by immigration authorities.

"I chose Julian as the 2025 Congressional App Challenge winner for developing an app that teaches our community their rights," said Rep. Gomez. "When an 8th-grade student steps up to protect his community, it reminds us all that what’s happening in America right now isn’t normal."

Congressman Gomez invited Julian to his downtown Los Angeles district office, where Julian demonstrated how the app works and discussed what inspired him to create it. The meeting followed a surprise Zoom call earlier this month in which Congressman Gomez personally informed Julian that he had won the district’s Congressional App Challenge.

“I saw the effects these immigration raids were having on the community, and I wanted to create a resource that was easily accessible, so people could know their rights in this country," said Julian. "I wanted to help my community in a good way."

The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition created by the U.S. House of Representatives to encourage students to learn computer science and develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. Winning apps from each congressional district are eligible to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol, and winners are invited to Washington, D.C. to meet fellow student innovators from across the country.