House Judiciary Member Demands DOJ Explain App Removals

Congressman questions pressure on Apple, Google to take down apps tracking ICE agents

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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A House Judiciary Committee member has asked the US Department of Justice to turn over all its communications with Apple and Google regarding the companies' decisions to remove apps that shared information about sightings of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. The request comes after several apps allowing people to report ICE agent locations were removed from both the App Store and Google Play Store in October.

Why it matters

The removal of these apps has raised concerns about potential government overreach and efforts to suppress information about ICE operations. The Congressman argues the "coercion and censorship campaign" targets critics of the administration's immigration policies and attempts to cover up incidents where ICE agents' actions were contradicted by eyewitness accounts or video footage.

The details

House Judiciary Committee member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) has contacted Attorney General Pam Bondi, asking the Department of Justice to provide all communications with Apple and Google about the app removals. Raskin referenced two incidents where Minneapolis residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti were fatally shot by ICE agents, with federal leaders' claims about the circumstances contradicted by witnesses or footage.

  • The apps were removed from the App Store and Google Play in October 2026.
  • Raskin contacted Attorney General Bondi in February 2026 about the issue.

The players

Jamie Raskin

A Democratic member of the House Judiciary Committee who has requested information from the Department of Justice about its communications with Apple and Google regarding the removal of apps that tracked ICE agents.

Pam Bondi

The Attorney General of the United States, who Raskin has contacted about the DOJ's role in the app removals.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States, whose administration's immigration policies are the focus of criticism related to the app removals.

Renee Good

A Minneapolis resident who was fatally shot by ICE agents, with federal leaders' claims about the circumstances contradicted by witnesses or footage.

Alex Pretti

A Minneapolis resident who was fatally shot by ICE agents, with federal leaders' claims about the circumstances contradicted by witnesses or footage.

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What they’re saying

“The coercion and censorship campaign, which ultimately targets the users of ICE-monitoring applications, is a clear effort to silence this Administration's critics and suppress any evidence that would expose the Administration's lies, including its Orwellian attempts to cover up the murders of Renee and Alex.”

— Jamie Raskin, U.S. Representative (Letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi)

What’s next

The House Judiciary Committee is expected to hold hearings on the DOJ's communications with tech companies about the app removals in the coming months.

The takeaway

This incident highlights ongoing tensions between the federal government, technology companies, and civil liberties advocates over the balance between public safety, transparency, and the right to access information about law enforcement activities.