Apple pulls US immigration official tracking apps

October 3, 2025

Apple has removed several apps, including ICEBlock and ICE Immigration Alerts, from its App Store following pressure from law enforcement about safety risks to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. The apps, which allowed users to report sightings of ICE officers, were developed in response to President Trump's immigration crackdown and had been downloaded over a million times. US Attorney General Pam Bondi "demanded" ICEBlock's removal, claiming it endangered ICE agents, while the FBI linked similar apps to a deadly attack on an ICE facility in Dallas that killed two detainees.

Who is affected

ICE officers whose locations were being tracked
App creators (Joshua Aaron and others) whose products were removed
Immigrant communities who used the apps as warning systems
Existing app users (who can continue using but not newly download the apps)
Two detainees killed in the Dallas ICE facility attack

What action is being taken

Apple is removing apps like ICEBlock and ICE Immigration Alerts from its App Store
Google is removing similar apps from Google Play
Law enforcement agencies are pressuring tech companies to take down these apps
The Department of Homeland Security is publicly defending the removal of these apps

Why it matters

The removals raise tensions between free speech protections and law enforcement safety concerns
The apps were created in response to increased immigration enforcement under the Trump administration
The FBI claims similar apps were used by an attacker who killed two detainees at an ICE facility
The apps had gained significant traction with over a million downloads
The removals highlight the power tech platforms have in determining what tools are available during politically charged moments

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC