Apple Bans Controversial ICEBlock App Amid Pressure From Trump Administration

ICEBlock, an app designed to inform users of reported sightings of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents within a 5-mile radius, has been removed from the Apple App Store. The app rose to prominence during the immigration raids that took place in several cities earlier this year. Apple made the move to ban the app after being pressured by the US government.

The app’s developer addressed the issue on social media platform Blue Sky, saying that “we just received a message from Apple's App Review that #ICEBlock has been removed from the App Store due to ‘objectionable content’. The only thing we can imagine is this is due to pressure from the Trump Admin. We have responded and we'll fight this!”

Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the developer’s suspicions that the removal came at the behest of the administration. In a statement to Fox Business, Bondi said that "we reached out to Apple today demanding they remove the ICEBlock app from their App Store — and Apple did so." In a prior statement she has claimed that the app is “not protected speech.”


The app has been in the crosshairs of the government since it skyrocketed in popularity in the App Store. US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has referred to it as an “obstruction of justice.” Additionally, Bondi has said that the app creates an increased risk for ICE agents while they’re on the job.

The situation is reminiscent of the removal of the HKMap app in 2019, which was used by protestors in Hong Kong to share information regarding the movements of law enforcement. Apple removed it after being pressured by the government there and led to a letter from Congress signed by members of both political parties against “Apple’s censorship of apps.”

Apple is typically forthcoming when it comes to decisions such as this one, so it will be interesting to see if it chooses to be more transparent in this case and expand on the reasons for its actions.