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Apple said Thursday it has removed ICEBlock and other apps that allowed users to track U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, following direct requests from the Trump administration.
The decision came after Attorney General Pam Bondi's office contacted Apple, citing safety threats to federal officers. The Justice Department argued that apps like ICEBlock, which alert users to immigration raids, could facilitate violence against law enforcement.
"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," Apple said in an emailed statement.
ICE has been central to former President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration policies during his second term, carrying out raids targeting undocumented migrants, visa holders, and lawful residents engaged in pro-Palestinian activism.
Bondi told Fox Business that ICEBlock "was designed to put ICE agents at risk just for doing their jobs," warning its creator, Texas-based Joshua Aaron, that he could face prosecution. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem echoed that stance, saying Aaron "is not protected" by the Constitution.
The FBI has linked ICEBlock to a recent Dallas incident in which a gunman attacked an ICE facility, killing two detained immigrants before fatally shooting himself. Authorities said the suspect had searched tracking apps prior to the assault.
Civil rights advocates criticized Apple's decision, warning that the removals may stifle digital tools used by vulnerable communities. Groups monitoring immigration enforcement argued that such apps help inform individuals of raids that often bypass due process.
ICEBlock, launched earlier this year, quickly rose to the top of the App Store's social networking category, amassing more than a million downloads. Its popularity surged after a CNN article spotlighted the app in June, drawing swift condemnation from the White House.
The move adds to scrutiny over the warming relationship between Silicon Valley and the Trump administration, which has pressed technology companies to cooperate more closely on issues ranging from law enforcement to content moderation.
Apple had not indicated whether similar apps on other platforms would be affected.
