This iPhone app alerts you of ICE sightings in your area

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)-- As large scale deportation efforts are taking place across the country, some undocumented people are living in fear. A new iPhone app, Iceblock is designed as a "warning system."

Joshua Aaron is the creator of the app. He says the goal of this app is to inform, not to obstruct.

"Do not go to confront. Do not go to obstruct. This is akin to if you're walking down the street and you get a notification that four blocks ahead of you, ICE has been spotted. turn left. Turn around. Avoid the situation. That's the goal," said Aaron.

Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, responded the use of the app in a statement to ABC-7.

“This sure looks like obstruction of justice. Our brave ICE law enforcement face a 500% increase in assaults against them. If you obstruct or assault our law enforcement, we will hunt you down and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Once you let the app track your location, you will get notifications about ICE sightings within five miles of your location. 

As of the end of June, the app has more than 95 thousand users. 

Aaron says it's comparable to the app "Waze," which tracks speed traps on the highway. 

"There's nothing to be afraid of. Because if you're not breaking the law and stripping constitutional right rights away from the people of this nation, including our immigrant friends and neighbors, you shouldn't be scared at all with this app," said Aaron.

In a statement the Acting Director of ICE, Todd M. Lyons said partly quote:

"Advertising an app that basically paints a target on federal law enforcement officers’ backs is sickening."

The creation of the app came to Aarons mind at the beginning of President Trump's second term.

"When you see five year olds in courtrooms, without representation, when you see college students being disappeared for their political beliefs, when you see babies being ripped from their mother's arms and they're screaming for their children in the name of patriotism and our country, we're watching history repeat itself. and honestly, it can't stand. So we have to do something," Aaron told ABC-7.

On Fox News, Attorney General Pam Bondi told the app maker, to watch out and that the Department of Justice is looking at him.