Apple has taken down an app that makes use of crowdsourcing to flag sightings of U.S. immigration brokers, apparently after being pressured by U.S. authorities.
ICEBlock, a free iPhone-only app lets customers anonymously report and monitor exercise by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, was not accessible on Apple’s App Retailer as of Friday.
“We just received a message from Apple’s App Review that #ICEBlock has been removed from the App Store due to “objectionable content’,” the developer stated in a social media put up. “The only thing we can imagine is this is due to pressure from the Trump Admin. We have responded and we’ll fight this!”
The developer stated final month that it had greater than 1 million customers. Despite the fact that it has been faraway from the app market, those that have already downloaded the app ought to nonetheless be capable of use it.
Apple didn’t reply instantly to a request for remark.
“We created the App Store to be a safe and trusted place to discover apps,” the corporate stated in a press release to different media shops. “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.”
Downloads of apps like ICEblock have surged because the Trump administration steps up immigration enforcement with shock raids. The expertise has come below fireplace from authorities after brokers have been focused.
Officers stated final month {that a} gunman who opened fireplace on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas had looked for apps that tracked the presence of ICE brokers.
Initially Printed: October 3, 2025 at 4:23 AM PDT
