July 1 (Reuters) - The Trump administration said on

Tuesday that it was looking into whether CNN could be prosecuted

over its report on an Apple ( AAPL ) iPhone app that alerts

users to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in their

area.

The cable news network said its reporting was not illegal.

The app ICEBlock is the third most popular free app in

Apple's ( AAPL ) app store in the U.S. ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons

told CNN the free app could increase the risk of assault on U.S.

agents.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, speaking

alongside President Donald Trump at a migrant detention

encampment in Florida, said she is working with the Justice

Department to see if CNN can be prosecuted for reporting on the

phone app.

"It's OK with me," Trump said, referring to prosecuting CNN.

A spokesperson for CNN, which is owned by Warner Bros

Discovery ( WBD ), said in a statement: "This is an app that is

publicly available to any iPhone user who wants to download it.

There is nothing illegal about reporting the existence of this

or any other app, nor does such reporting constitute promotion

or other endorsement of the app by CNN."

Representatives for Apple ( AAPL ) did not immediately respond to a

request for comment.

Noem accused CNN of interfering with law enforcement

operations.

"What they're doing is actively encouraging people to avoid

law enforcement activities, operations," Noem told reporters

during the tour of the camp in Ochopee in the Everglades,

without citing any specific law CNN allegedly violated in its

reporting.

The U.S. Constitution's First Amendment protects free speech

rights.