ICEBlock: The App That Alerts About Nearby Immigration Agents in the U.S.

ICEBlock: App Alerts About ICE

Anonymous and Secure Reports

Real-Time Notifications

ICEBlock is an app created to warn communities about the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents near their neighborhoods.

Its creator, Joshua Aaron, told CNN that his goal is to help people avoid unexpected encounters with immigration authorities during a time of high political tension in the United States.

ICEBlock: Technology for Immigration Alerts

A Developer with Experience and Purpose

Joshua Aaron has been connected to the tech industry for about two decades.

He learned to program as a teenager when he created his first blackjack game at a computer camp at age 13.

But his new project is very different: it’s a community-based early warning system to report in real time the presence of immigration agents.

Aaron decided to launch ICEBlock at the beginning of April, motivated by the political climate he observed in the country under President Donald Trump’s administration.

The Background of Immigration Tensions

During Trump’s government, immigration policies sparked widespread protests across the nation.

Raids and deportation operations were a source of outrage in many communities.

According to a CNN survey conducted in April, 52% of Americans said the president had gone too far in deporting undocumented immigrants.

Aaron was clear about his motivation when speaking to the network: “When I saw what was happening in this country, I wanted to do something to fight back.”

He even compared the situation to alarming historical events: “We’re literally watching history repeat itself.”

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How ICEBlock Works

ICEBlock already has more than 20,000 users, with a significant concentration in Los Angeles.

The city has been the site of some of the country’s largest and most controversial immigration operations.

The app was designed as an “early warning system” to inform about ICE activity.

It allows users to drop a pin on a map indicating the exact location where they saw immigration agents.

They can also include optional notes with details such as the officers’ clothing or the vehicle they were driving.

People within a five-mile (eight-kilometer) radius receive instant notifications about those sightings.

Privacy as a Priority

ICEBlock: The App That Alerts About Nearby Immigration Agents – PHOTO: Envato

Aaron made it clear to CNN that the purpose of the app is not to interfere with the agency’s operations but to protect people.

That’s why ICEBlock includes an explicit warning: “Please note that the use of this application is for informational and notification purposes only. It should not be used to incite violence or interfere with law enforcement.”

ICE did not respond to CNN’s requests for comment about the existence of the app or the statements made by its creator.

Privacy protection is an essential element for ICEBlock.

Aaron stated that the app does not collect users’ personal data.

Currently, it’s only available for iOS because replicating it on Android would require collecting information that could put users at risk.

“We don’t want anyone’s device ID, IP address, or location,” he explained.

“We don’t want anything discoverable. So this is 100% anonymous and free for anyone who wants to use it.”

ICEBlock Has Controls Against Abuse

To prevent false reports or spam, the app limits users to one report every five minutes.

Sightings can only be submitted within a five-mile (eight-kilometer) radius of their actual location.

Additionally, all reports are automatically deleted after four hours.

Aaron told CNN that he has no plans to monetize ICEBlock and that his only goal is to provide a free service to the community.

Contrast with Silicon Valley

Aaron also criticized the role of some tech leaders who have openly supported President Trump.

Several of them attended his inauguration and have announced investments to strengthen manufacturing in the United States, aligning with the presidential agenda.

“I think I’d tell them to have more courage. It can’t just be about the money,” he said.

“I understand they have to answer to shareholders. I understand they have employees who need to get paid,” he added.

“But at what point do you say: ‘Enough is enough’?”

ICEBlock, ultimately, is an example of how technology can become a tool for civil resistance and a resource of solidarity in defense of vulnerable communities, in a context where immigration policies generate concern and fear.

What do you think? Do you believe apps like ICEBlock help protect communities, or could they create more tension?

SOURCE: CNN