Why was CBP’s ‘Mobile Identify’ app pulled from Google Play Store? What we know about the immigrant-hunting app

Mobile Identify, an app that allowed police to use facial recognition technology to identify illegal immigrants, has been pulled from Google Play Store.

Published on: Dec 7, 2025, 07:46:08 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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An app that allowed police to use facial recognition technology to identify illegal immigrants has reportedly been pulled from Google Play. The app, rolled out by the Trump administration, could not be found on CBP's website either, Newsweek reported.

Why was CBP’s immigrant facial recognition app pulled from Google Play Store? (Pixabay - representational image)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released the Mobile Identify app a few weeks ago in November. However, it disappeared on Friday, December 5, 404 Media reported.

The app was not listed on Google Play as of Friday afternoon, with the link appearing to be broken. It was launched in November, and allowed users, including federal agents and local police, to identify individuals without legal status by using facial recognition databases held by CBP and ICE.

Why was the app removed?

While a specific reason has not been cited for the site being pulled, 404 Media revealed that some staff at Google were reported to be unhappy with the app being included on the company’s store. According to reports circulating in recent weeks, some people positively identified by the app included US citizens.

Google told the outlet that the app could only be used by those with official government logins. It added that the company would take action if it found any violations of its policies.

“This app is only usable with an official government login and does not publicly broadcast specific user data or location. Play has robust policies and when we find a violation, we take action,” said Google.

New York Republican Representative Andrew Garbarino told Newsweek about ICE agent tracking apps, "Apps that broadcast the location and identity of law enforcement personnel don’t just put them at risk – they undermine lawful government operations and embolden bad actors. The Committee wants clear answers on what tech companies are doing to stop this abuse. Protecting our law enforcement officers is fundamental to protecting the safety and security of our communities.”

It was unclear as of Friday afternoon whether the removal is temporary or not.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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