White House Border Czar Tom Homan torched CNN on Monday, calling on the Department of Justice to investigate the network after it promoted an app designed to crowdsource the real-time location of federal immigration enforcement agents.
The app, ICEBlock, encourages users to identify and log the whereabouts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
Described by its creator Joshua Aaron as an “early warning system,” the platform sends alerts to nearby users when ICE agents are reportedly seen in their area.
“When I saw what was happening in this country, I wanted to do something to fight back,” Aaron told CNN.
“We’re literally watching history repeat itself,” he continued, likening ICE to Nazi Germany — a claim that drew outrage from trump administration officials.
🚨NEW—CNN pushes new app "ICEBlock" meant to "track ICE activity in real time," alerting illegal aliens before they are detained and deported.
The app is completely free and anonymous to use. pic.twitter.com/f142PBR9Bo
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) June 30, 2025
Tom Homan was quick to denounce both the app and CNN’s coverage of it.
“It’s simply disgusting,” Homan said. “Any network that covers that is disgusting as well.”
He warned of the serious risks such a tool poses to law enforcement, citing past attacks on officers.
“It’s only a matter of time before ICE officers are going to be ambushed by some nut, like what happened in L.A., throwing a Molotov cocktail, throwing bricks at these officers,” Homan said.
“ICE is concentrating on public safety threats and national security threats,” he added.
.@RealTomHoman slams a new app that tracks @ICEgov agents as 'DISGUSTING!' pic.twitter.com/eKnfqTPKuZ
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) June 30, 2025
According to CNN, the ICEBlock app operates via a map interface, allowing users to drop pins marking the supposed presence of agents. Those within a five-mile radius then receive real-time alerts.
“This shouldn’t be a partisan issue,” Homan continued. “Assaults on ICE agents have jumped 500%. This shouldn’t be an issue anybody is against.”
He pushed back on the growing narrative that immigration officers are villains.
“These guys are putting their lives on the line every day going after the worst of the worst, and a national security threat, and this app makes it much more dangerous,” he said.
“It’s incredible that those who enforce law, all of a sudden they’re the bad guys, the ones who break the law, they’re victims. It’s disgusting.”
Stephen Miller, a senior advisor to President Trump and key figure behind his immigration strategy, echoed Homan’s outrage.
“CNN is openly helping invaders and insurrectionists sabotage ICE,” Miller said in a statement.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also weighed in.
“Surely, it sounds like this would be an incitement of further violence against our ICE officers,” Leavitt said, though she admitted she had not yet viewed the segment.
🚨WATCH: Karoline Leavitt condemns CNN for running a story about "ICEBlock," an app that notifies users about nearby ICE sightings. pic.twitter.com/vcOAwgWLWl
— Off The Press (@OffThePress1) June 30, 2025
“We’ll take a look at it, 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.”
“And 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,” she concluded.
Todd M. Lyons, Acting Director of ICE, slammed the network for what he called a grossly irresponsible move.
“Advertising an app that basically paints a target on federal law enforcement officers’ backs is sickening,” Lyons said.
Like Homan, he pointed out that ICE agents have already seen a dramatic surge in physical threats.
“CNN is willfully endangering the lives of officers who put their lives on the line every day and enabling dangerous criminal aliens to evade U.S. law. Is this simply reckless ‘journalism’ or overt activism?”
CNN responded to the backlash by defending their decision to cover the app.
“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,” a spokesperson for the network said.
“After CNN published its reporting, ICE posted a response, which is now included in the story,”
This dushebag should be arrested and thrown in prison at alligator alcatraz. This is not freedom of speech, it’s putting hits on our law enforcers and inciting violence. It’s like the riots. They are not included in the first amendment. Disgusting, but glad they are personally taking credit, because now we know who they are.