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ICE at the center of Trump's hardline immigration agenda

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Rights advocates concerned that ICE's actions can flout

due

process

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Tech firms have sought warmer ties with Trump during his

second

term

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Apple ( AAPL ) said on

Thursday that it had removed ICEBlock, the most popular

ICE-tracking app, and other similar apps from its App Store

after it was contacted by President Donald Trump's

administration.

The app alerts users to Immigration and Customs Enforcement

agents in their area. ICE has been a central part of Trump's

hardline immigration agenda and its agents have regularly raided

and arrested migrants. The Justice Department says the app could

increase the risk of assault on U.S. agents.

"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," Apple ( AAPL ) said in an

emailed statement.

Since Trump took office, ICE has raided multiple facilities

with immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally. The agency has

also arrested visa holders and permanent U.S. residents targeted

by the Trump administration over pro-Palestinian advocacy.

Rights advocates have raised concerns that rights to free

speech and due process are often being infringed as the

government pushes ahead with its deportation drive.

Fox Business first reported the app's removal on Thursday,

citing a statement by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi who said

the Justice Department contacted Apple ( AAPL ) to pull the app on

Thursday and that the company complied.

"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," Bondi said in her

statement to Fox Business.

Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem have

previously warned Joshua Aaron, the Texas-based creator of

ICEBlock, that he is "not protected" under the Constitution and

that they are looking at prosecuting him.

Apple's ( AAPL ) actions may also lead to further scrutiny over the

warm ties that tech firms have tried to build with the Trump

administration during his second term.