ICEBlock, an app that lets users post eyewitness accounts of illegal immigration crackdowns, sues the Trump administration

ICEBlock , an app that allows users to share information about illegal immigration crackdowns, has sued the Trump administration.

ICEBlock app sues Trump administration for censorship : NPR
https://www.npr.org/2025/12/08/nx-s1-5631826/iceblock-app-lawsuit-trump-bondi

ICEBlock developer files lawsuit against the US government - 9to5Mac
https://9to5mac.com/2025/12/08/iceblock-developer-sues-us-government/

Since the Trump administration took office, the United States has been cracking down on illegal immigrants, raising fears of deportation. Amid this, the popularity of ICEBlock, an app that allows users to anonymously report sightings of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, has skyrocketed. Despite criticism from the Trump administration, ICEBlock has quickly risen to the top of the App Store's free app rankings.

ICEBlock, an app that lets users report sightings of law enforcement officials as part of President Trump's nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration, has topped the US App Store's free app rankings.

'We created the App Store to be a safe and trusted place to find apps. We received information from law enforcement about safety risks associated with ICEBlock, and we have removed ICEBlock and similar apps from the App Store,' Apple said in a statement.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said, 'Today, I contacted Apple to request that they remove the ICEBlock app from the App Store.' She added, 'We will continue to do everything in our power to protect the federal law enforcement officers who risk their lives every day to keep the American people safe.'

Apple removes ICEBlock app from App Store, allowing users to anonymously report sightings of ICE officers - Attorney General confirms request

Joshua Aaron, the developer of ICEBlock, filed a lawsuit against 14 Trump administration officials, including Attorney General Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, Border Commissioner Thomas Homan, and 10 other unnamed federal officials.

In his lawsuit, Aaron explains that he developed ICEBlock because he fears that President Trump's inflammatory rhetoric about immigration will lead to aggressive and indiscriminate enforcement of immigration laws, exposing immigrants and citizens alike to violence and civil liberties violations.

Aaron also revealed that he received threats before Apple removed ICEBlock. The lawsuit states, 'This lawsuit alleges that Attorney General Bondi, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Acting Director of ICE Todd M. Lyons, and Border Patrol Commissioner Tom Homan have unlawfully threatened criminal investigation and prosecution of Aaron for his role in developing ICEBlock. These threats are intended to suppress Aaron and others' expressive activities, specifically the sharing of information about publicly observable law enforcement activities, and to prevent technology companies and news organizations from supporting, amplifying, or promoting such speech.'

Aaron also explained that when he released ICEBlock on the App Store, he notified Apple that 'several apps, including Waze, provide real-time crowdsourcing tools that accurately notify police presence,' and was able to get approval from app reviewers. Therefore, he argued that Apple's removal of ICEBlock from the App Store was 'unfair.'

Aaron is seeking a court order to declare the Trump administration's threats and removal of ICEBlock from the App Store unlawful, violating the First Amendment. He also seeks a ban on the U.S. government from seeking the removal of similar apps from the App Store or other similar platforms, and to prohibit the U.S. government from threatening, investigating, or prosecuting Aaron.