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The company has pulled applications that enabled users to identify sightings of officers from the immigration enforcement agency.

Apple stated it had eliminated the tracking application from its application marketplace after police informed them about possible "security concerns" connected with this software and "comparable applications".

According to a declaration shared with press agencies, the top law enforcement official the official had "demanded" the app's withdrawal stating it was "developed to place immigration agents at danger".

The programmer responded that such claims were "demonstrably incorrect" and accused the company of "giving in to an authoritarian regime".

Background of the Disputed App

ICEBlock is one of multiple apps released in recent months in response to expanded immigration crackdown activities across the US.

Opponents - including the developer of ICEBlock - accuse the authorities of abusing its influence and "spreading terror" to US streets.

The free software functions by showing the locations of immigration officers. It has been installed in excess of a one million times in the United States.

Safety Concerns

Nonetheless, officials contended it was being employed to focus on enforcement personnel, with the FBI stating that the person who attacked an immigration center in Texas in last month - killing two detainees - had used similar apps to follow the locations of personnel and their vehicles.

In a statement, the technology firm stated: "We established the App Store to be a safe and trusted platform to discover applications.

"Based on data we've received from police about the potential dangers connected to ICEBlock, we have eliminated it and similar apps from the application marketplace."

Creator's Reaction

Nevertheless its developer, the programmer, denied it presented a danger.

"ICEBlock is no different from public reporting speed traps, which each significant mapping application, even the company's proprietary navigation software," he stated.

"This is protected speech under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution."

Joshua Aaron - who has worked in the software field for years - earlier explained he developed the application out of worry over a spike in immigration raids.

"I definitely observed pretty closely during the former government and then I heard the language during the political contest for the present," he stated.

"My brain started thinking about what was going to happen and what I could accomplish to keep people safe."

Government Reaction

The executive branch and FBI had criticized the application after it debuted in spring and usage rose.