A classroom technology tool originally designed to help students communicate and collaborate has been repurposed by activists as a platform for tracking Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity, sparking debate over the role of nonprofit organizations in supporting such efforts.
Padlet, an interactive digital bulletin board popular among educators for group brainstorming and formative assessments, was used to host “People Over Papers,” a crowdsourced map that tracked ICE operations in real time. The company later removed the project for violating its safety policies. “A digital whiteboard used as a tool for education and a professional work environment shouldn’t double as a real-time surveillance system,” the author stated.
After being taken down from Padlet, the initiative reemerged under the name iceout.org with support from the Pueblo Project Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Within three days of launching its fundraising campaign, iceout.org set a $200,000 goal and raised nearly $10,000. A separate “50 States, 50 Days” fundraiser also met its target quickly.
According to fundraising materials cited in the statement, donations are intended to fund high-traffic server infrastructure capable of handling surges in reporting activity, cybersecurity measures, data protection efforts, and new features aimed at improving accessibility.
The use of nonprofit status by groups facilitating real-time tracking of federal law enforcement has raised concerns about whether such activities align with IRS guidelines for tax-deductible charities. “Most Americans see ‘nonprofit status’ as a shorthand for ‘public good.’ But here, the IRS is essentially subsidizing a live-tracking system designed to help people dodge federal agents,” said the author.
Federal officials have previously warned that similar apps can endanger officers by enabling interference with law enforcement activities. Tech companies including Apple and Google have removed related applications due to violations of public safety policies.
“When you provide the exact GPS coordinates and timestamps of officers in the field, you are creating a dangerous tool for disruption,” according to the statement. The concern is that these tools could be used not only to inform individuals about their rights but also to mobilize groups who may attempt to obstruct law enforcement operations.
Supporters argue that such maps protect vulnerable families; however, critics point out that approximately 70% of ICE arrests involve individuals charged with or convicted of crimes in the United States. Recent ICE operations have led to removals involving serious offenses such as sexual abuse of children and murder.
“When iceout.org pings a location… it alerts the ‘worst of the worst’ just as quickly as it alerts anyone else,” noted the author. Critics argue this approach does not consider public safety implications or differentiate between types of cases.
The debate continues over whether tax-exempt status should apply to organizations operating platforms that may hinder law enforcement efforts or contribute to obstruction of justice.
