Apple Removes Immigration Enforcement Tracking Apps After Trump Administration Pressure

Apple has removed several apps that allowed users to anonymously track U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, following pressure from the Trump administration citing officer safety concerns.

The tracking apps, including the popular ICEBlock, had surged in use as President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement drive expanded across major U.S. cities. Users relied on the apps to share real-time locations of ICE agents, often to warn undocumented migrants of raids.

Federal officials argued the apps endangered officers, particularly after a deadly shooting at an ICE facility in Texas last month. Two detainees were killed and another wounded in the attack, which investigators say was linked to the use of one of the tracking apps, though the shooter primarily targeted ICE personnel.

Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox Business that the Justice Department formally contacted Apple, demanding the apps’ removal. “We reached out to Apple today demanding they remove the ICEBlock app from their App Store and Apple did so,” Bondi said.

By late Thursday, AFP confirmed that the apps were no longer accessible on the App Store. Apple issued a statement to NBC News:“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.”

The decision has sparked criticism from immigrant rights advocates, who say the apps offered vital protection to vulnerable communities amid Trump’s escalating deportation campaign. Supporters of the administration, however, argue the technology posed a direct threat to law enforcement and national security.

Google has not commented on whether similar apps remain on its Play Store. Apple has not said if the apps could be reinstated in the future.