Apple Removes ICEBlock App After DOJ Concerns Over Officer Safety

Dallas, Texas — Apple has removed the ICEBlock app from its App Store following concerns from the Department of Justice (DOJ) about the app’s risks to law enforcement officers. The decision comes after a series of violent incidents targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel.

Attorney General Pam Bondi directed the DOJ to contact Apple after reports claimed that ICEBlock, which allows users to anonymously report the presence of ICE agents, jeopardizes the safety of these officers. ‘We reached out to Apple today demanding they remove the ICEBlock app from their App Store — and Apple did so,’ Bondi stated.

The controversy intensified after a shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas on September 24, 2025, where the shooter, Joshua Jahn, allegedly searched for tracking apps before attacking. Jahn reportedly killed one detainee and critically injured two intended targets, both ICE officers. Marcos Charles, an acting director for ICE removal operations, spoke at a press conference, asserting that violent rhetoric against ICE has led to a significant rise in assaults. ‘Violent rhetoric has led to an over 1000% increase in assaults on ICE officers, and it has to stop,’ Charles said.

After the shooting, investigators recovered a bullet marked ‘ANTI-ICE’ at the crime scene, highlighting the escalating dangers faced by ICE personnel. In response to the DOJ’s action, Apple stated, ‘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.’

In contrast, Joshua Aaron, the creator of ICEBlock, expressed disappointment in Apple’s decision. He claimed, ‘Capitulating to an authoritarian regime is never the right move’ and argued that ICEBlock functions similarly to other crowd-sourced mapping applications. Aaron stated, ‘We are determined to fight this with everything we have, as our mission has always been to protect our neighbors from the terror this administration continues to reign down on the people of this nation.’

The Attorney General’s directive reflects the administration’s broader concerns about the safety of law enforcement amid increasing hostility against ICE officers across the country.