Trending Now - Court Rules in Favor of ICE Tracker Creators Over Free Speech

WHO:

Engadget - Judge Jorge L. Alonso of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois; plaintiffs Kassandra Rosado and Kreisau Group; former US Attorney General Pam Bondi; former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.

Techmeme - Creators of the banned "ICE Sightings - Chicagoland" Facebook group and Eyes Up mobile app.

WHAT:

Engadget - A US judge granted a preliminary injunction to the makers of the "ICE Sightings - Chicagoland" Facebook group and the Eyes Up app.

Engadget - The lawsuit alleges that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) violated the plaintiffs' First Amendment rights by coercing platforms to remove their apps.

Engadget - The judge found that the plaintiffs are likely to succeed in their case regarding the suppression of protected speech.

Engadget - The apps were removed from Apple's App Store and Facebook after pressure from Trump officials.

WHERE:

Engadget - United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Engadget - The apps were removed from the App Store and Facebook.

WHEN:

Engadget - The ruling was made on April 19th, 2026.

Engadget - The lawsuit cites social media posts made by Bondi and Noem demanding the removal of the apps.

WHY:

Engadget - The plaintiffs allege that the government suppressed their right to discuss, record, and criticize law enforcement activities in public.

HOW:

Engadget - The plaintiffs claim that the DHS and DOJ used "thinly veiled threats" to pressure social media platforms into removing the apps.

(UPDATED April 19, 2026 01:20 UTC)

A judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has granted a preliminary injunction to the creators of the "ICE Sightings - Chicagoland" Facebook group and the Eyes Up mobile app, which were removed from platforms after pressure from Trump officials. The lawsuit alleges that the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice violated the plaintiffs' First Amendment rights by coercing these platforms to take down their apps, and the judge found that the plaintiffs are likely to succeed in their case regarding the suppression of protected speech. The plaintiffs argue that the government used "thinly veiled threats" to silence their ability to discuss, record, and criticize law enforcement activities in public.