WASHINGTON, Oct 2 (Reuters) – Apple mentioned on Thursday that it had eliminated ICEBlock, the most well-liked ICE-tracking app, and different related apps from its App Retailer after it was contacted by President Donald Trump’s administration.
The app alerts customers to Immigration and Customs Enforcement brokers of their space. ICE has been a central a part of Trump’s hardline immigration agenda and its brokers have repeatedly raided and arrested migrants. The Justice Division says the app might enhance the danger of assault on U.S. brokers.
“Based mostly on data we’ve obtained from regulation enforcement concerning the security dangers related to ICEBlock, we’ve eliminated it and related apps from the App Retailer,” Apple mentioned in an emailed assertion.
Since Trump took workplace, ICE has raided a number of amenities with immigrants who’re within the U.S. illegally. The company has additionally arrested visa holders and everlasting U.S. residents focused by the Trump administration over pro-Palestinian advocacy.
Rights advocates have raised issues that rights to free speech and due course of are sometimes being infringed as the federal government pushes forward with its deportation drive.
Fox Enterprise first reported the app’s elimination on Thursday, citing an announcement by U.S. Legal professional Normal Pam Bondi who mentioned the Justice Division contacted Apple to drag the app on Thursday and that the corporate complied.
“ICEBlock is designed to place ICE brokers in danger only for doing their jobs, and violence in opposition to regulation enforcement is an insupportable purple line that can’t be crossed,” Bondi mentioned in her assertion to Fox Enterprise.
Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Safety Kristi Noem have beforehand warned Joshua Aaron, the Texas-based creator of ICEBlock, that he’s “not protected” underneath the Structure and that they’re prosecuting him.
Apple’s actions can also result in additional scrutiny over the nice and cozy ties that tech companies have tried to construct with the Trump administration throughout his second time period.
