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The company has pulled apps that allowed users to identify sightings of officers from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Apple declared it had eliminated ICEBlock from its App Store after police informed them about potential "safety risks" linked to the application and "related programs".

According to a declaration provided to press agencies, the top law enforcement official Pam Bondi had "requested" the app's elimination saying it was "developed to put immigration agents at harm".

The app's creator responded that such assertions were "completely untrue" and alleged the company of "capitulating to an oppressive government".

History of the Controversial Application

The application is one of numerous programs introduced this year in response to heightened immigration crackdown activities across the America.

Detractors - such as the developer of the app - accuse the authorities of misusing its influence and "bringing anxiety" to local neighborhoods.

The free application functions by showing the locations of immigration officers. It has been acquired in excess of a million instances in the US.

Security Issues

Nonetheless, law enforcement argued it was being employed to single out ICE officers, with the federal investigators saying that the person who assaulted an ICE facility in the city in September - fatally shooting two detainees - had utilized comparable applications to follow the activities of officers and their vehicles.

In a statement, the company commented: "We established the digital storefront to be a safe and trusted platform to discover applications.

"According to intelligence we've obtained from authorities about the potential dangers linked to the software, we have withdrawn it and similar apps from the digital platform."

Developer's Response

Nevertheless its developer, Joshua Aaron, refuted it created a risk.

"The software is similar to crowd sourcing police locations, which every notable mapping application, even the company's proprietary navigation software," he stated.

"This represents protected speech under the constitutional protection of the American Constitution."

Joshua Aaron - who has been employed in the software field for years - before explained he developed the app out of worry over a surge in enforcement operations.

"I closely monitored very carefully during the former government and then I heard the language during the political contest for the current," he explained.

"I started firing on what was going to happen and what I could achieve to keep people safe."

Administration Position

The administration and Federal Bureau of Investigation had denounced the application after it launched in recent months and downloads grew.