IPhone App Tracks ICE Sightings, Gains 20,000 Users

A new iPhone app called ICEBlock allows users to anonymously report and receive alerts about nearby Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer sightings within a five-mile radius, aiming to help people avoid ICE encounters during ongoing deportation efforts. The app, created by Joshua Aaron, emphasizes user anonymity, does not collect personal data, and has safeguards to prevent false reporting, with over 20,000 users primarily in Los Angeles. Aaron describes the app as an early warning system rather than a tool to interfere with ICE operations, while ICE officials and Department of Homeland Security representatives condemn the app as obstructing justice and endangering law enforcement officers amid rising assaults on ICE personnel. Critics argue that the app paints a target on federal officers and enables criminals to evade U.S. law, whereas supporters see it as a community service to protect vulnerable populations. The controversy highlights a broader political divide, with some politicians accused of demonizing ICE officers, leading to increased tensions surrounding immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump's administration. Despite the backlash, ICEBlock remains free and available only on iOS due to privacy concerns related to data collection on other platforms.