Apple has removed ICEBlock and other immigration enforcement-tracking apps from its App Store. This followed a request from President Donald Trump’s administration.
ICEBlock, created by Texas-based developer Joshua Aaron, alerted users to the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents nearby. The U.S. Justice Department argued the app could endanger law enforcement officers. It suggested an increased risk of assault during operations.
“Based on information we received from law enforcement about the safety risks associated with ICEBlock, we have removed it and similar apps from the App Store,” Apple said in a statement.
ICE has been central to Trump’s hardline immigration agenda. Its agents frequently conduct raids and arrests, which rights advocates say often come at the expense of due process and free speech.
The Justice Department confirmed that it had asked Apple to take down the app, a move first reported by Fox Business.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the request, saying: “ICEBlock is designed to put ICE agents at risk just for doing their jobs. Violence against law enforcement is an intolerable red line that cannot be crossed.”
Civilian surveillance of ICE activity has increased since Trump returned to office. Activists say they use such tools to protect immigrant communities from aggressive enforcement. In cities like Washington, residents also rely on encrypted messaging to share real-time updates. However, it is unclear how effective apps like ICEBlock were in alerting neighbors.
