The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has accused CNN of putting the lives of federal immigration agents in danger by promoting an app that tracks their activities.
In an interview published on Monday, CNN featured the creator of ICEBlock, an app that alerts users to nearby sightings of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Lyons also questioned whether the CNN piece is "reckless 'journalism'" or "overt activism."
NTD reached out to CNN for comment but did not receive a response by publication.
According to Joshua Aaron, the app's developer, it's designed to function as an "early warning system" for users.
The app will notify users if ICE agents are within a five-mile radius of their location.
"So imagine if you're walking down the street and a notification comes up on your device and says ICE has been spotted four blocks ahead. Instead of continuing down that path, you can either turn left, or turn around and avoid the situation altogether," Aaron said on CNN.
The official description of the app notes that the platform is strictly for information and notification purposes only. Before users post a sighting, a warning pops up that reminds users that the app is not to be used to incite violence or interfere with law enforcement.
Safeguards are also built into the system to prevent users from spamming the platform with fake sightings, Aaron said. Users can only report a sighting once every five minutes. After four hours, those reports are automatically deleted.
Aaron told the network he launched the app in early April after witnessing the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration."In recent years, ICE has faced criticism for alleged civil rights abuses and failures to adhere to constitutional principles and due process, making it crucial for communities to stay informed about its operations," the app description states.
DHS Deputy Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned new platform, suggesting the app is un-American.
"Examples like these apps are absolutely obstructing justice," McLaughlin told Fox News. "What our ICE officers are doing is enforcing the rule of law.
Nationwide targeted enforcement operations are part of President Donald Trump's broader crackdown on illegal immigration. The ongoing ICE raids have prompted nationwide protests against Trump's sweeping immigration policies. The Trump administration has defended its efforts and maintained its crackdown is necessary to keep the country safe and remove criminals who threaten public safety and national security.