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The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed Tuesday that Meta has complied with its request to remove a Facebook page allegedly used to “dox and target” Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Chicago.

The page reportedly published personal details and tracked the movements of about 200 federal officers assigned to the city as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement campaign.

AG Bondi Protecting ICE

Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement posted to X that “following outreach from the DOJ, Facebook removed a large group page that was being used to target ICE officials.”

Meta later confirmed the takedown, stating that “this group was removed for violating our policies against coordinated harm,” though the company did not specify the name of the group or whether the DOJ had been directly involved in the decision.

“Doxxing is the sharing of personal information about people online,” Bondi wrote. “And this particular page crossed the line into targeting law enforcement officials.”

Meta Under Pressure Amid Immigration Crackdown

According to a Reuters report, the group had been used by some Chicago residents to monitor ICE activity and warn communities of nearby enforcement operations. However, federal officials argued the page endangered agents’ safety and violated federal laws against harassment and intimidation of law enforcement officers.

A Meta spokesperson said the company enforces a zero-tolerance policy on any content that could lead to “offline harm.”

Meanwhile, local activists and developers who created similar tools say the government’s actions amount to censorship.

“Capitulating to an authoritarian regime is never the right move,” said Joshua Aaron, developer of the recently banned ICEBlock app. “Our mission has always been to protect our neighbors from the terror this administration continues to reign down on the people of this nation.”

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Apple, Google Also Comply to Remove Dox and Target Pages

Meta isn’t alone in facing federal scrutiny. Earlier this month, Apple removed the ICEBlock app from its App Store, and Google restricted downloads of similar tools used to flag ICE sightings. These moves came just hours after DOJ officials asked major tech firms to take action against apps or pages that share law enforcement locations.

Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, say these tools are meant to help residents stay informed and safe amid aggressive federal immigration operations.

“Most users aren’t trying to harass ICE,” one Democratic aide told PBS News. “They’re trying to protect their families and communities.”

ICE Activity Raises Questions About Accountability

Reports indicate ICE officers in Chicago have recently been operating in unmarked vehicles, wearing facial coverings, and lacking visible name tags, despite a federal judge’s ruling that non-undercover agents must display identification.

While the Chicago Facebook group appears to have been taken down, dozens of other similar groups — some with thousands of members — remain active on Facebook.

As the debate over privacy, transparency, and safety continues, the takedown of the “dox and target” page marks another flashpoint in the ongoing struggle between government control and digital activism.

Related Links:

Meta removes Facebook page that tracked ICE in Chicago | PBS News

Facebook takes down page that Justice Department says was used to harass ICE agents | Reuters