A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Trump administration from pressuring Apple and Google to delete ICE‑tracking apps, ruling that the government’s tactics likely violate First Amendment rights. The order protects the ICE Sightings and Eyes Up projects.

The decision follows a chain of events that began with the ICEBlock app, which let users report ICE agent sightings. After a White House rebuke, Apple removed the app, sparking a debate over platform power and free speech. Lawmakers and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) joined the lawsuit.

Judge Jorge L. Alonso concluded that the plaintiffs, Kassandra Rosado and the Kreisau Group, have a strong case. The ruling bars the federal government from coercing Apple or Facebook to remove publicly sourced ICE activity reports.

This ruling affirms that tech giants cannot be compelled to silence public‑interest tools under executive pressure. It underscores the ongoing clash between government surveillance initiatives and digital platform governance, setting a precedent for future First Amendment challenges.