Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief Kristi Noem announced Tuesday that the federal government is considering legal action against CNN for devoting air time to covering a mobile app that tracks Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in real time. (RELATED: [WATCH] Authorities Sound Off After CNN Pushes Anti-Police Tool)
Speaking during a tour of a new migrant detention facility in Florida — dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” by its supporters — Noem left no room for ambiguity when asked by political commentator Benny Johnson if the liberal network would face consequences.
“We’re gonna actually go after them and prosecute them,” Noem responded blunty.
She also confirmed working directly with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“We’re working with the Department of Justice to see if we can prosecute them for that,” she added. “What they’re doing is actively encouraging people to avoid law enforcement… and operations. What they’re doing, we believe, is illegal.”
Just one day earlier, CNN aired a segment highlighting ICEBlock, a recently released app that alerts users to the presence of ICE agents. The app, developed by activist Joshua Aaron and launched in April 2025, claims to function as an “early warning system” for communities that fear immigration enforcement.
While Aaron said he doesn’t want users to confront authorities attempting to apprehend illegal immigrants, he drew a hyperbolic comparison between current events in the United States and the sweeping atrocities committed by Nazi Germany.
“We’re literally watching history repeat itself,” the activist software developer breathlessly warned.
How ICEBlock Works
- User-Based Reports: Individuals can log sightings of ICE agents, tagging details such as clothing, vehicles, and location.
- Real-Time Alerts: Anyone within five miles of a reported sighting receives a push notification.
- Anonymity: The app doesn’t require personal information.
- Free Access: ICEBlock is currently available at no cost.
The app has reportedly drawn over 20,000 users, with a significant portion concentrated in Los Angeles, where tensions have flared amid ICE raids and subsequent protests.
Legal Questions Ahead
Noem’s statements suggest the federal government may pursue charges under laws that prohibit obstruction of justice or interference with federal officers. The Department of Justice has yet to confirm whether an official investigation is underway.
Critics argue CNN’s segment amounts to platforming a tool designed to impede law enforcement, while the network and its defenders insist they were simply covering a newsworthy app already in the public domain.
Mediaite has the latest on the ongoing public debate:
Hours after that report, Trump Border Czar Tom Homan called for the Justice Department to investigate CNN for “pushing” the app. He also called the segment “disgusting.” The CNN report on the app made clear that it was “controversial.”
The next day, Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed that they intend to prosecute CNN over the reporting. Those comments were made during a visit to “Alligator Alcatraz,” the new migrant detention center located in the Florida Everglades.
On Tuesday afternoon, CNN released a statement standing by its reporting, “This is an app that is publicly available to any iPhone user who wants to download it. There is nothing illegal about reporting the existence of this or any other app, nor does such reporting constitute promotion or other endorsement of the app by CNN.”
Whether the DOJ will pursue charges remains to be seen — but the political fallout is already underway.
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Before they started pushing the app, how many people REALLY knew about it ?
Why not go after the app, rather than CNN?