Apple has removed ICEBlock, a controversial mobile app that allowed users to track the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, after the Trump administration raised alarms that the tool endangered federal officials.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed Thursday that the Department of Justice demanded Apple pull the app, which had been downloaded over a million times. As she told Fox Digital:
“We reached out to Apple today demanding they remove the ICEBlock app from their App Store — and Apple did so,” Bondi said in a statement.“ICEBlock is designed to put ICE agents at risk just for doing their jobs, and violence against law enforcement is an intolerable red line that cannot be crossed. This Department of Justice will continue making every effort to protect our brave federal law enforcement officers, who risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe.”
Apple issued its own statement defending the removal, emphasizing the danger highlighted by law enforcement. According to NBC News:
“We created the App Store to be a safe and trusted place to discover apps,” Apple said. “Based on information we’ve received from law enforcement about the safety risks associated with ICEBlock, we have removed it and similar apps from the App Store.”
Concerns over ICEBlock grew following a deadly shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas last month. Authorities said the attacker, 29-year-old Joshua Jahn, had searched for ICE tracking apps before opening fire. Marcos Charles, acting director for ICE removal operations, made clear the growing risks agents face:
“The evidence is clear that this was intended as an assault on ICE personnel who come to work everyday to do their job. Violent rhetoric has led to an over 1000% increase in assaults on ICE officers, and it has to stop.”
ICEBlock’s creators quickly fired back, posting a defiant statement on their website:
“We are incredibly disappointed by Apple’s actions. Capitulating to an authoritarian regime is never the right move. Apple has claimed they received information from law enforcement that ICEBlock served to harm law enforcement officers. This is patently false.
ICEBlock is no different from crowd sourcing speed traps, which every notable mapping application, including Apple’s own Maps app, implements as part of its core services. This is protected speech under the first amendment of the United States Constitution.
We are determined to fight this with everything we have. Our mission has always been to protect our neighbors from the terror this administration continues to reign down on the people of this nation. We will not be deterred. We will not stop. #resist”
The controversy escalated after a deadly Dallas attack, where authorities said the gunman searched for ICE tracking apps before targeting an ICE facility. As ICE’s Marcos Charles warned, violent rhetoric has driven “an over 1000% increase in assaults on ICE officers.”
In that environment, Apple’s removal of ICEBlock is more than a policy choice — it is a vital step to safeguard federal officials from harassment and violence while carrying out their lawful duties.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY