Technology giant Apple has removed ICEBlock and similar applications from its App Store following pressure from the Trump administration and concerns raised by U.S. law enforcement agencies.
The apps, which allowed users to anonymously report sightings of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, were taken down after Attorney General Pam Bondi called for their removal, citing safety risks to federal officers.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Apple said the decision was based on information received from law enforcement. “We created the App Store to be a safe and trusted place to discover apps,” the company said.
“Based on information we’ve received about the safety risks associated with ICEBlock, we have removed it and similar apps.”
The removal comes in the wake of a deadly attack on an ICE facility in Dallas, where a gunman, identified as Joshua Jahn, fatally shot himself after killing two detained immigrants and injuring another. The FBI disclosed that Jahn had searched for ICE-tracking apps prior to the attack.
Bondi, in a statement to Fox News Digital, said the app endangered ICE agents. “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,” she said.
The app, which had gained popularity with over one million downloads since its launch, saw a spike of 114,000 downloads in a single day following media coverage.
Trump administration border czar Tom Homan said investigations would be launched into the creators of such apps, describing them as a threat to law enforcement.
The Department of Justice reaffirmed its commitment to protecting federal officers and ensuring public safety amid growing concerns over digital tools that may incite violence.
