Apple Removes ICE-Tracking Apps After US Govt Request

Apple has removed several immigration enforcement–tracking apps, including ICEBlock, from its App Store following a formal request from the Trump administration, the company confirmed in a statement.

The apps alerted users to the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in nearby areas — a feature that the Justice Department argued could endanger federal officers by facilitating potential attacks.

“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. The move was first reported by Fox Business.

The Justice Department later confirmed that it had contacted Apple directly regarding the app, and that the company complied.

Alphabet’s Google also removed comparable apps from the Play Store on Thursday, citing policy violations, but said it did so independently and without government intervention. Google added that its policies prohibit apps deemed at “high risk of abuse.” ICEBlock had never been available on its platform.

Rights advocates and legal experts have expressed concern that the removals could have implications for free speech and transparency. ICE has been a central player in the Trump administration’s hardline immigration enforcement efforts, which critics say have eroded civil liberties and due process.

In cities such as Washington, residents have long relied on encrypted group chats to share updates on immigration raids. Legal scholars told Reuters that surveillance of ICE operations in public areas is generally protected under the U.S. Constitution, provided activists do not interfere with enforcement activities.

Joshua Aaron, the Texas-based creator of ICEBlock, denounced Apple’s decision, calling it an act of submission to government pressure.

“I am incredibly disappointed by Apple’s actions today. Capitulating to an authoritarian regime is never the right move,” Aaron told Reuters, adding that his legal team is weighing further action.

In contrast, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the removals, stating that the app “was 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.”

According to Apple’s application transparency reports, the company removed more than 1,700 apps in 2024 in response to government demands — the majority originating from China (over 1,300), followed by Russia (171) and South Korea (79). The United States had not previously appeared on this list in recent years.

Beyond government-driven actions, Apple routinely removes tens of thousands of apps annually for violations ranging from design flaws to fraud and intellectual property infringement — including more than 82,500 apps in 2024 alone.