Apple Removes Apps Used to Track US Immigration Officers
Apple has taken down several mobile apps that allowed users to report sightings of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, citing safety concerns flagged by law enforcement.
Among the apps removed from the App Store is ICEBlock, which had been downloaded over a million times in the US. Similar apps, including ICE Immigration Alerts and Coqui, were also pulled from Apple and Google’s platforms.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed she urged Apple to act, describing ICEBlock as “designed to put ICE agents at risk.” The FBI has previously warned that apps of this kind could be misused to target immigration officials, linking one such case to a deadly attack on an ICE facility in Dallas in September.
Apple defended its decision, saying: “We created the App Store to be a safe and trusted place to discover apps. Based on information from law enforcement about safety risks, we have removed ICEBlock and similar apps.”
But ICEBlock’s creator, Joshua Aaron, pushed back, arguing the app posed no threat and likening it to crowd-sourced traffic alerts. “This is protected speech under the First Amendment,” he said, accusing Apple of bowing to government pressure.
The Department of Homeland Security welcomed the removals. Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said: “ICE tracking apps put the lives of law enforcement in danger as they pursue terrorists, gangs, and violent criminals.”
Google also confirmed it had removed “similar apps” for policy violations but did not specify which rules were broken. Developers of ICE Immigration Alerts said they were notified by both Apple and Google within hours of each other and complained they were given little room to appeal.
The apps emerged earlier this year amid heightened ICE raids under former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. While developers insist their purpose was to keep vulnerable communities informed, critics argue the technology could be weaponized against federal agents.
