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Apple has pulled applications that permitted users to report sightings of agents from the immigration enforcement agency.

Apple declared it had eliminated ICEBlock from its application marketplace after law enforcement informed them about potential "security concerns" linked to this software and "comparable applications".

Based on a statement provided to news outlets, the top law enforcement official the Attorney General had "requested" the app's removal saying it was "designed to place immigration agents at harm".

Its developer countered that such assertions were "demonstrably incorrect" and accused the tech firm of "giving in to an oppressive government".

Context of the Disputed App

ICEBlock is among numerous apps launched recently in answer to expanded immigration enforcement activities across the US.

Detractors - such as the maker of the app - charge the government of misusing its influence and "spreading fear" to local neighborhoods.

The complimentary application functions by revealing the locations of enforcement agents. It has been acquired over a 1 million times in the US.

Security Issues

However, authorities argued it was being used to target immigration agents, with the federal investigators indicating that the individual who assaulted an enforcement office in Dallas in September - fatally shooting two detainees - had utilized comparable applications to track the locations of agents and their vehicles.

According to their announcement, the company stated: "We developed the application marketplace to be a safe and trusted platform to discover apps.

"Based on data we've received from authorities about the safety risks linked to the software, we have removed it and similar apps from the application marketplace."

Developer's Response

However its creator, Joshua Aaron, denied it posed a risk.

"The software is similar to crowdsourcing speed traps, which each significant navigation app, such as Apple's own mapping application," he said.

"This constitutes constitutionally protected expression under the first amendment of the American Constitution."

Joshua Aaron - who has worked in the software field for years - previously mentioned he created the app out of anxiety over a increase in ICE activities.

"I closely observed intently during the former government and then I paid attention to the rhetoric during the election race for the present," he stated.

"My brain started firing on what was about to transpire and what I could do to keep people safe."

Administration Position

The administration and FBI had criticized the application after it launched in recent months and usage grew.