Apple has removed several mobile applications designed to track the movements of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from its App Store, following concerns raised by the Trump administration over safety risks to law enforcement officers.
The move, which came late Thursday, affected apps including the widely used ICEBlock, which allowed users to anonymously report ICE activity. The applications had gained traction in recent months as President Donald Trump’s administration intensified its mass deportation drive across American cities.
Officials in Washington had long criticised the platforms, arguing they endangered officers’ lives. The debate reached a tipping point after a fatal shooting at an ICE facility in Texas last month. Investigators revealed the attacker had accessed one of the tracking apps days before the assault. Two detainees lost their lives in the incident, while another was injured. Authorities believe the gunman had targeted ICE personnel.
Anti-ICE protests have continued nationwide, with demonstrators storming facilities and challenging the agency’s methods, especially as operations often involved heavily armed, masked agents rounding up migrants.
By Thursday evening, reporters confirmed the tracking apps were no longer available on Apple’s marketplace. The removal was first reported by Fox Business, which quoted US Attorney General Pam Bondi as saying: “The Justice Department reached out to Apple today demanding they remove the ICEBlock app — and Apple did so.”
While Apple initially declined comment, the tech giant later told NBC News that its decision was based on information provided by law enforcement. “Based on information we’ve received about the safety risks associated with ICEBlock, we have removed it and similar apps from the App Store,” the statement read.
