Tech Company ICE Silent, Employees Revolt [2026]

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Over 1,000 Sign Petition Demanding Termination of ICE Contracts

  • Over 1,000 Google employees have signed a petition demanding the termination of contracts with ICE and CBP.
  • Employees from 16 companies, including Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and OpenAI, have joined the effort.
  • Employee dissatisfaction is growing as company executives largely remain silent.

Minneapolis Incident Sparks Tech Industry Protest

In January 2026, an ICE agent fatally shot citizen Renee Good in Minneapolis. On January 24, nurse Alex Pretti also died.Time These incidents triggered collective action among Silicon Valley employees.

Initially, around 450 people signed an open letter. Employees from Google, Meta, OpenAI, Amazon, and Salesforce participated.TechCrunch Subsequently, Google alone gathered over 1,000 signatures.CNBC

Employees’ Three Demands

The ICEout.tech petition’s core demands are threefold. First, the CEO should call the White House and demand ICE’s withdrawal. Second, corporate contracts with ICE should be terminated. Third, they should publicly speak out against ICE’s violence.The Register

Amazon AWS provides data storage services to ICE. Microsoft and Oracle also supply cloud infrastructure to the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. These contractual relationships are fueling employee anger.

Executive Silence vs. Past Actions

What’s interesting is the contrast with past examples. In October 2025, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Salesforce’s Marc Benioff called Trump to withdraw threats of crackdowns in San Francisco. Employees know that CEO action can be effective.

But things are different now. The Register contacted 16 companies but received no immediate responses. OpenAI’s Head of Global Business, James Dietz, criticized that “tech leaders’ outrage over wealth taxes is far greater than ICE agents terrorizing communities.”

Movement Beyond the Tech Industry

Over 60 Minnesota-based CEOs signed a separate letter, including those from 3M, Best Buy, General Mills, Target, and UnitedHealth. They called for “de-escalation” and collaborative problem-solving.

Meanwhile, ICE is expanding surveillance using AI and facial recognition technology. Recently, it was reported that they requested companies to provide “commercial big data and advertising technology” products. The connection between tech companies and immigration enforcement is deepening.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why are tech employees demanding the termination of ICE contracts?

A: The direct trigger was the January 2026 incident in Minneapolis where ICE agents fatally shot two citizens. Amazon AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, and others provide cloud infrastructure and data services to ICE, leading to growing ethical backlash against their technology being used for immigration enforcement. Employees believe CEOs can exert influence on the White House.

Q: How are companies responding?

A: Mostly with silence. The Register contacted 16 companies, including Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, but none responded immediately. However, there is a precedent from October 2025 when Nvidia and Salesforce CEOs directly called Trump to withdraw crackdowns, leading employees to argue that management can exert influence if they have the will.

Q: How is ICE using AI technology?

A: ICE is actively using AI and facial recognition technology for immigration enforcement surveillance. Recently, they requested companies to provide commercial big data and advertising technology products. Amazon AWS, Microsoft, and others provide cloud infrastructure, and this technical connection is fueling ethical backlash from employees.

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References

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