Apple has removed the “Waze but for ICE sightings” app ICEBlock from its App Store, as reported by Business Insider and The Verge.
The ICEBlock app is intended to be used to anonymously report sightings of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials and see sightings reported within a 5-mile radius. It says it offers a “completely anonymous and secure” platform without the developer storing any information that is enabled by Apple’s ecosystem, and reverse engineering by at least one researcher confirmed it doesn’t share your data directly.
A post from its developer relayed Apple’s App Review message about the ban, saying, “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.
The ICEBlock app rose to the top of the App Store’s charts this summer after being targeted by Trump administration officials, with US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem calling it an “obstruction of justice,” and Attorney General Pam Bondi claiming it was “not a protected speech.”
Bondi added, “We reached out to Apple today demanding they remove the ICEBlock app from their App Store —and Apple did so. 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.”
From ICE Agent Trackers to Legal Guide Assistance Mobile Programs
Here are some of the tools like ICEBlock, that could be used by migrants (or activist networks) to support journeys, avoid detection, or otherwise assist them.
Stop ICE Raids Alert Network (U.S.): A crowdsourced alert network that sends and receives mobile alerts about nearby ICE activity via SMS or a website. Because it uses standard SMS and web rather than a single app, it can be more resilient than app-only solutions; however it depends on user reports and carries the usual risks of false or malicious reports.
ICE Activity Tracker / ICE in My Area (U.S.): A community safety alert system for reporting and viewing real-time ICE activity such as raids, checkpoints, and detainments. Reports are anonymized but could still risk exposure through device or IP tracing.
ICE Watch / ICE Watchers (U.S.): Community reporting and tracking of ICE activity in a user’s area, typically provided as a web or map-based tool. It operates similarly to
other community alert systems tracking enforcement activity.
Coqui (U.S.): A phone app designed to alert immigrants to ICE raids; users can upload images, mark locations, and issue warnings when they spot enforcement activity. Its effectiveness depends on adoption and carries surveillance and legal risks.
Red Dot (U.S.): Anonymized community safety alerts for ICE activity; described as a “safety tool.” Red Dot and apps like it have been removed from app stores in some cases, showing platform and legal vulnerability.
Your Rights (web app) (U.S./general): A web application that provides “just-in-time” legal guidance for people who encounter immigration enforcement personnel, offered in multiple languages. It doesn’t locate enforcement but helps users know what legal options and protections they may have.
KYRC (Know Your Rights Campaign) App (U.S.): A mobile guide that provides know-your-rights information for encounters with immigration enforcement and police, with state-by-state legal information in English and Spanish. It helps people prepare for interactions with authorities rather than helping them evade detection.
Integreat (Germany/Europe): An app delivering localized information for refugees (local services, registration steps, contact details) in relevant languages, with offline content available. It’s primarily an orientation and integration tool, useful for reducing risky wandering but not an evasion tool.
