Appearing U.S. Lawyer for the Northern District of Texas Nancy Larson discusses risks posed by ICE monitoring apps.
FIRST ON FOX: Apple dropped ICEBlock, a extensively used monitoring software, from its App Retailer Thursday after the Division of Justice raised considerations with the massive tech large that the app put regulation enforcement officers in danger.
DOJ officers, on the course of Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi, requested Apple to take down ICEBlock, a transfer that comes as Trump administration officers have claimed the software, which permits customers to anonymously report ICE brokers’ presence, places brokers at risk and helps protect unlawful immigrants.
“We reached out to Apple right this moment demanding they take away the ICEBlock app from their App Retailer — and Apple did so,” Bondi stated in an announcement to Fox Information Digital.
“ICEBlock is designed to place ICE brokers in danger only for doing their jobs, and violence in opposition to regulation enforcement is an insupportable pink line that can’t be crossed,” Bondi added. “This Division of Justice will proceed making each effort to guard our courageous federal regulation enforcement officers, who threat their lives day-after-day to maintain Individuals protected.”
BONDI DECLARES ‘NEW ERA’ OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE AS FEDERAL AGENTS DEPLOY TO ICE FACILITIES NATIONWIDE
Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi speaks throughout a information convention at DEA headquarters July 15, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (Alex Wong/Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
Controversy surrounding ICE monitoring apps intensified after final month’s lethal capturing at an ICE area workplace in Dallas, Texas, the newest in a sequence of assaults that seemed to be concentrating on immigration enforcement officers.
Authorities stated the suspect, Joshua Jahn, searched his cellphone for monitoring apps, together with ICEBlock, earlier than opening fireplace on the ability from a rooftop. Authorities stated Jahn killed one detainee and left two critically injured however that the personnel have been his meant targets, not the immigrants. One of many injured, a 32-year-old husband and father of 4, died this week.
Marcos Charles, an appearing director for ICE’s elimination operations, stated throughout a press convention that Jahn had meant to homicide ICE staff and that assaults on them have skyrocketed.
“The proof is evident that this was meant as an assault on ICE personnel who come to work on a regular basis to do their job,” Charles stated. “Violent rhetoric has led to an over 1000% enhance in assaults on ICE officers, and it has to cease.”
Joshua Jahn allegedly shot at an ICE facility in Dallas, Texas, on Sept. 24, 2025, and the FBI stated a bullet with “ANTI-ICE” on it was discovered on the scene. (FBI; Contributed to Fox Information)
Fox Information Digital reached out to Apple and ICEBlock for remark.
Apple stated in an announcement it eliminated ICEBlock and different apps prefer it.
“We created the App Retailer to be a protected and trusted place to find apps. Based mostly on info we’ve obtained from regulation enforcement concerning the security dangers related to ICEBlock, we’ve got eliminated it and comparable apps from the App Retailer,” Apple stated.
Joshua Aaron, ICEBlock’s creator, stated he was “extremely disenchanted by Apple’s actions right this moment.”
“Capitulating to an authoritarian regime is rarely the fitting transfer,” Aaron stated. “Apple has claimed they obtained info from regulation enforcement that ICEBlock served to hurt regulation enforcement officers. That is patently false.”
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Aaron stated ICEBlock, which has greater than 1.1 million customers, capabilities like different mapping purposes that use crowd sourcing for velocity traps, citing Apple’s personal map service for instance.
“We’re decided to struggle this with every part we’ve got,” Aaron stated. “Our mission has at all times been to guard our neighbors from the fear this administration continues to reign down on the folks of this nation.”
