House Judiciary Committee member Jamie Raskin has demanded the Department of Justice turn over all communications with Apple and Google regarding the removal of apps tracking ICE officers. Several apps that allowed users to share information about ICE sightings were removed from both the App Store and Google Play Store in October. Raskin claims this represents a censorship campaign targeting the administration's critics.

In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Raskin questioned the DOJ's use of force against protesters and its role in executing President Trump's immigration policies. He specifically referenced the fatal shootings of Minneapolis residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents, whose deaths were allegedly covered up by federal officials. Eyewitness accounts and camera footage contradicted official statements about these incidents.

The controversy echoes earlier violent interactions during ICE raids in Chicago, where federal leaders made false claims about victims and circumstances. Raskin's investigation seeks to determine whether the DOJ improperly pressured tech companies to remove the tracking apps, potentially violating free speech protections. The apps' removal has raised concerns about government overreach and the suppression of information about immigration enforcement activities.

Quick Fact: Several ICE-monitoring apps were removed from Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store in October 2024.