Apple has removed the controversial app ICEBlock from its App Store following pressure from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who argued the platform endangered federal immigration officers.
ICEBlock, which allowed users to anonymously report sightings of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, was taken down Thursday, one day after Bondi publicly called for its removal.
“We reached out to Apple today demanding they remove the ICEBlock app from their App Store, and Apple did so,” Bondi said in a statement obtained. “ICEBlock is designed to put ICE agents at risk just for doing their jobs, and violence against law enforcement is an intolerable red line that cannot be crossed.”
Apple confirmed the decision, saying it acted after consulting with law enforcement. “We created the App Store to be a safe and trusted place to discover apps,” the company said in a statement. “Based on information about the safety risks tied to ICEBlock, we have removed it and similar apps from the App Store.”
The removal comes amid heightened tensions surrounding federal immigration enforcement. Just days earlier, a gunman opened fire at an ICE facility in Texas, killing multiple people. In response, the White House released a list of nearly 30 Democratic governors, members of Congress, and mayors it accused of fueling hostility toward ICE through inflammatory remarks.
The list included high-profile figures such as Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, and members of the “Squad,” among others. The White House statement accused Democrats of comparing ICE to “Gestapo” forces and encouraging public resistance that has coincided with a surge in assaults against immigration officers.
“The carnage in Dallas, Texas, where a maniac with ‘ANTI-ICE’ ammo gunned down an ICE field office, lays bare the deadly consequences of Democrats’ unhinged crusade against our border enforcement,” the administration said.
The Texas shooting, carried out by 29-year-old Joshua Jahn on Sept. 24, targeted an ICE office and a detainee transport van before Jahn killed himself. Federal officials say the attack underscores the rising threats faced by immigration officers across the country.
Apple’s decision to remove ICEBlock reflects a growing debate over technology, speech, and public safety, raising questions about how far platforms should go in moderating apps that intersect with politics and law enforcement.
