Latest news with #ICEBlock
NBC News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- NBC News
App that allows people to share ICE sightings gets boost in downloads after White House backlash
A new platform that encourages users to share information about sightings of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents nearby rose to the top of the Apple App Store this week, amid criticism from Trump administration officials who say the app could put agents at risk. ICEBlock, which launched in April, made headlines after a CNN article about it was called out by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and ICE acting Director Todd M. Lyons on Monday. Both cited concerns over agent safety in their statements about the app, stating that 'agents are facing a 500% increase in assaults.' But Joshua Aaron, ICEBlock's Texas-based developer, called the administration's recent criticism 'another right-wing fearmongering scare tactic,' telling NBC News in a phone interview on Tuesday that his app was designed to be a resource for immigrants who are fearful they will get deported. He said he felt like he was 'watching history repeat itself' when he saw things like ' 5-year-olds in courtrooms with no representation ' and 'college students being disappeared for their political opinions.' 'When I saw what was happening in this country, I really just wanted to do something to help fight back,' said Aaron, a onetime musician who spent several months working on the app. 'I grew up in a Jewish household, and being part of the Jewish community, I had the chance to meet Holocaust survivors and learn the history of what happened in Nazi Germany, and the parallels that we can draw between what's happening right now in our country and Hitler's rise to power are undeniable.' The app, which is free and gives users the ability to anonymously report ICE sightings within a five-mile radius, had approximately 95,200 users as of Monday, Aaron said. He said he has not received updated figures from Apple since the White House and ICE issued their comments on the app. ICEBlock is among several crowdsourcing platforms — including the website People Over Papers and the app ResistMap — that people across the U.S. have utilized to warn immigrants in their communities about ICE's whereabouts. Its popularity comes amid the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration. Raids — and subsequent protests in cities like Los Angeles — have become more widespread as ICE has ramped up its deportation of immigrants. The White House has stood by its policies, stating last month that President Donald Trump 'remains committed to enforcing federal immigration law — anyone present in the United States illegally is at risk of deportation.' In Monday's White House briefing, Leavitt said she had not seen CNN's report about ICEBlock, but described the app as 'encouraging violence against law enforcement officers who are trying to keep our country safe.' When asked for comment about ICEBlock, a spokesperson for ICE referred NBC News to Lyons' previous statement in which he called CNN's reporting 'sickening,' and said the app 'basically paints a target on federal law enforcement officers' backs.' He also expressed concern that covering the app could invite 'violence against them with a national megaphone.' Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also weighed in on Tuesday, saying, 'We're working with the Department of Justice to see if we can prosecute them [CNN] for that.' 'Because what they're doing is actively encouraging people to avoid law enforcement activities, operations,' she said while speaking to reporters alongside President Trump in Florida. 'And we're going to actually go after them and prosecute them with the partnership of Pam if we can. Because what they're doing, we believe, is illegal.' CNN did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment. The network issued a statement on X in response to Noem and DHS, writing that ICEBlock '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, or does such reporting constitute promotion or other endorsement of the app by CNN.' Aaron, the developer, also disputed the administration's claims about ICEBlock causing harm. 'This app is for informational purposes only, and I always like to say it is to inform, not obstruct,' he said. 'We are looking for people to be safe, to protect themselves and their communities.' ICEBlock is currently available on Apple iOs devices; it's also available in multiple languages and for vision- and hearing-impaired people. When users open the app, they are asked to allow notifications at all times so they can get real-time updates about their area. Once they agree, they are able to see a map of their location, and a list of any reported ICE sightings. If there are none, the app will say 'No Sightings Reported.' A person can report a sighting by pressing a plus sign and entering a specific address. 'Modeled after Waze but for ICE sightings, the app ensures user privacy by storing no personal data, making it impossible to trace reports back to individual users,' ICEBlock states on its website. Users can't make reports outside the five-mile radius where their phone is — a safeguard against false reporting — and all reports automatically expire after four hours. The app, which encourages users to "see something, tap something,' doesn't track any data beyond the number of users, according to Aaron. In the past week, ICEBlock has been promoted by many users on the social media platform BlueSky. Aaron said he's also seen some people post to X that the app has helped them avoid run-ins with ICE. Since ICEBlock has picked up more attention, Aaron said he has faced online harassment, such as people posting antisemitic comments about him on social media. But he said helping other people feel safer outweighs any negative responses. 'I think if you can save one person's life, or help one person avoid a horrible situation, I've done my job,' he said.
NDTV
4 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
ICEBlock Creator Compares Tracking US Immigration Agents To Fighting Hitler's Rise
Joshua Aaron, the creator of ICEBlock, the app that allows users to track the real time location of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers across the US, has compared the actions of the agency with "Hitler's rise to power" in Nazi Germany. Aaron told Newsweek that he "knew something had to be done to help the people" after reading about Project 2025 and when he saw images of ICE agents detaining people. The app became the most downloaded on the App Store in the social networking category this week. The creator has maintained that the app has not been designed to interfere with law enforcement, and the goal is to help people avoid ICE encounters. The Department of Homeland Security differs from his opinion, and has stated that the app "paints a target on federal law enforcement officers' backs." Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security Secretary, has said that the app is an "obstruction of justice", however Aaron says the app is only for information. He said, "When we see ICE agents outside of elementary schools, disappearing college students for their political beliefs or ripping babies from their mother's arms as they scream for their children, we all know their rhetoric of 'getting rid of the worst of the worst' is a lie." He then went on to compare the current political situation with Nazi Germany and added, "As I often say, if you ever wondered what you would've done if you lived in Germany during Hitler's rise to power, wonder no more because you're doing it right now. Developing ICEBlock was my way of joining the fight and giving people a chance to help protect themselves and their communities." The app also does not log any user information or location data, which means estimates for the app's usage are likely even higher. "As of June 29, we had 31.3k users," Aaron said. "Now that ICEBlock is the No. 1 app in social networking-and with all the media attention, I have a feeling that number will be significantly larger." "As far as the areas in which the user base is the largest, I would have no idea," he added. "We do not track our users at any time, and that includes analytics. There is literally no data about any user captured or stored, ever." Todd M. Lyons, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement told Newsweek, "My officers and agents are already facing a 500 percent increase in assaults, and going on live television to announce an app that lets anyone zero in on their locations is like inviting violence against them with a national megaphone", regarding CNN's segment about ICEBlock on Tuesday. "CNN is willfully endangering the lives of officers who put their lives on the line every day and enabling dangerous criminal aliens to evade U.S. law. Is this simply reckless 'journalism' or overt activism?" Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said on X, "This sure looks like obstruction of justice. Our brave ICE law enforcement face a 500 percent increase in assaults against them. If you obstruct or assault our law enforcement, we will hunt you down and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
The Verge
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The Verge
ICE-tracking app tops App Store
ICEBlock, an app that lets users anonymously report sightings of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, has soared up App Store charts after receiving criticism from the Trump administration. On Monday, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem responded to CNN's coverage of ICEBlock in a post on X, calling it an 'obstruction of justice.' Following this comment, ICEBlock grew in popularity overnight, bringing it to the top of the App Store on Tuesday before dropping to the third spot at the time of writing. According to its website, ICEBlock lets users report sightings of ICE officials with 'two taps' and view reports that others have made within a five-mile radius.' It also says the app stores no personal data, 'making it impossible to trace reports back to individual users.' On Tuesday, Noem told reporters that she's going to work with the Department of Justice to see if the Trump administration can 'prosecute' CNN over its ICEBlock report: 'What they're doing is actively encouraging people to avoid law enforcement activities and operations.' ICE acting Director Todd Lyons also claimed CNN's reporting is 'willfully endangering the lives of officers.' A message within ICEBlock says 'it is not to be used for the purposes of inciting violence or interfering with law enforcement,' according to CNN. ICEBlock launched in April in response to President Trump's mass deportation efforts across the country. CNN says ICEBlock has over 20,000 users who are mostly located in Los Angeles, where many ICE raids are being carried out. The Trump administration's threats have only seemed to increase interest in ICEBlock, which has since seen fakes make their way to the Google Play Store, where it's currently not available because 'there is no way to provide 100% anonymity' on Android, according to the app's developer. Trump supporters and right-wing influencers have also started interacting with the app, with some of them claiming they are 'flooding' ICEBlock with fake reports in an attempt to drown out real sightings. The Verge reached out to Apple with a request for comment about ICEBlock's presence on the App Store but didn't immediately hear back.
The Hill
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
ICEBlock app allows users to report ICE sightings in their community
(KTLA) — As President Trump's immigration operations continue nationwide, a new app that allows users to report sightings of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in their area is gaining attention and controversy. The platform, called ICEBlock, was launched in April in response to President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration and the mass protests that followed, according to the app's creator, Joshua Aaron. The app allows users to report sightings of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in what Aaron said is an effort to protect bystanders from physical confrontations. 'That's what this whole thing is about, is getting it into as many people's hands as possible so that everybody can protect themselves and their communities from what is going on in this country,' Aaron told Nexstar's KTLA. Aaron said reports submitted to the app are anonymous and users can report ICE sightings within five miles of their current location. They can also receive push notifications of activity in their area. To keep the app 100 percent anonymous, Aaron said it is only available on iOS because he claimed that offering the app on Android would've required them to collect user data, which he wanted to avoid for user safety. He emphasized that he is not trying to obstruct law enforcement operations, but instead, protect civilians from possibly violent encounters in their communities. 'This app does not dox anybody,' he said. 'There are no photos or videos. This app is to inform, not obstruct. We do not condone violence against officers of the law or against federal officials of any kind. This is simply to help people avoid the confrontation in the first place.' The app has around 20,000 users, most of them based in Los Angeles, and has garnered criticism and pushback from the White House and federal officials, with some concerned about potential safety issues for agents. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized the app in a recent briefing, saying, 'Surely, it sounds like this would be an incitement of further violence against our ICE officers who are just simply trying to do their jobs.' In a statement, acting ICE director Todd Lyons said, 'An app that basically paints a target on federal law enforcement officers' backs is sickening.' Aaron, however, stands by the app's purpose to inform residents of immigration enforcement activity. 'In recent years, ICE has faced criticism for alleged civil rights abuses and failures to adhere to constitutional principles and due process, making it crucial for communities to stay informed about its operations,' read a statement on the app's website. Aaron said that despite the pushback and threats he's received, he hopes more people will download and use the app to report sightings. 'You're going to get blowback, you're gonna get threats,' he acknowledged. 'I got three death threats last night through email. I can't live in fear, and this is way more important because if we can save one person's life, if we can just help one person avoid an encounter or some horrible situation, that's all that matters.'
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
What is ICEBlock app that is topping charts on iPhones in the US and whose developer has been warned by Attorney General Pam Bondi; remember DOJ is 'looking at him'
People protest at a demonstration organized by the Service Employees International Union protesting ICE detentions, in New Orleans, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) ICEBlock, an iPhone app designed for anonymously reporting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent sightings, has soared to one of the top spots in Apple's U.S. App Store rankings, fueled by controversy sparked by the U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi 's remarks. The app, which allows users to share and receive real-time alerts about ICE sightings within a 5-mile radius while maintaining anonymity, gained traction overnight after Bondi criticized it recently. According to ICEBlock's developer Joshua Aaron , he made the app to counter the Trump administration's deportation policies, which Aaron compares to Nazi Germany. The app has found a strong user base in Los Angeles, where approximately 20,000 users have reported frequent ICE raids in recent weeks, according to CNN. What ICEBlock app description says Stay informed about reported ICE sightings, within a 5 miles radius of your current location, in real-time while maintaining your privacy. ICEBlock is a community-driven app that allows you to share and discover location-based reports without revealing any personal data. Attorney General Pam Bondi warns ICEBlock app's developer Speaking on Fox News with Sean Hannity, Bondi accused the app of potentially endangering law enforcement officers and slammed CNN for 'promoting' it, stating, 'Shame on them.' By Tuesday afternoon, ICEBlock had become one of the most downloaded free iPhone apps in the U.S. The app's description emphasizes its community-driven approach: 'Stay informed about reported ICE sightings, within a 5 miles radius of your current location, in real-time while maintaining your privacy. ICEBlock allows you to share and discover location-based reports without revealing any personal data.' However, the app has drawn sharp criticism from law enforcement advocates. Border Czar Tom Homan, speaking on 'The Will Cain Show,' called ICEBlock 'disgusting,' arguing it makes law enforcement's job more dangerous. 'Any network that covers that is disgusting as well,' Homan added. As ICEBlock's popularity surges, the debate over its impact on public safety and immigration enforcement continues to intensify. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
