White House Press Secretary Blasts CNN for Coverage of New ICE Tracking App: 'Encouraging Violence Against Law Enforcement'

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned CNN's coverage of ICEBlock, an iPhone app that allows users to report sightings of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.

"Surely, it sounds like this would be an incitement of further violence against our ICE officers," Leavitt said during a press briefing, responding to a question by the Daily Wire which asked about a potential correlation between the CNN report and a claim by DHS that there has been a 500% increase in assaults against ICE agents.

Leavitt emphasized that she had not yet viewed the segment in question but criticized CNN's editorial judgment. "We haven't seen the clip. We'll take a look at it," she said, "but certainly it's unacceptable that a major network would promote such an app that is encouraging violence against law enforcement officers who are trying to keep our country safe."

The press secretary went on to say "that's something we as Americans, including journalists at CNN, who live in many of these cities where illegal aliens are hiding and were let in from the previous administration, should be very grateful for—that we have law enforcement officials working to keep our streets safe."

CNN defended its reporting in a statement to Fox News Digital, saying: "CNN reported on a publicly available app, which is generating attention across the United States, and reached out to ICE for comment prior to publication. After CNN published its reporting, ICE posted a response, which is now included in the story."

ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons issued that response, saying ICEBlock "basically paints a target on federal law enforcement officers' backs" and noting that "officers and agents are already facing a 500% increase in assaults." Lyons also called the app "sickening."

The app's creator, Joshua Aaron, told CNN he launched ICEBlock in April as a way to respond to increased deportation activity under President Trump's administration. "When I saw what was happening in this country, I wanted to do something to fight back," Aaron said, likening the deportation efforts to "watching history repeat itself," referencing Nazi Germany.

Aaron emphasized that the app is intended as an "early warning system," not a tool to interfere with law enforcement. Users can report ICE sightings—location, appearance, and vehicle type—which then trigger push alerts to other users within a five-mile radius. ICEBlock has over 30,000 users and is only available on iOS due to privacy constraints with Android's notification system.

Leavitt, however, remained firm in her criticism: "Journalists should not be in the business of giving people the tools to run from law enforcement," she said. "We expect responsible reporting, especially when it comes to the safety of those who put their lives on the line every day."