Google Employees Demand End to ICE and CBP Contracts Amid Deportation Concerns
More than 900 employees at Alphabet Inc.'s Google have signed a petition demanding that the company sever its ties with the United States Department of Homeland Security. This action comes in response to the Trump administration's intensified mass deportation efforts, which have sparked widespread criticism and concern among tech workers.
Petition Targets Specific Agencies and Contracts
The petition specifically cites Google's contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the two DHS agencies leading the deportation initiative. Recent fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis have accelerated opposition to these policies, fueling calls for corporate accountability.
A spokesperson for Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the petition, leaving the company's stance unclear as internal pressure mounts.
Broader Tech Industry Activism and Historical Context
This employee-led movement mirrors a wave of protests against tech giants' collaborations with immigration officials during President Donald Trump's first term. In early January, over 1,700 tech workers signed a separate petition urging companies to cut contracts with ICE and for Big Tech leaders to demand that ICE leave cities.
Palantir Technologies Inc., which provides software for ICE, has become a focal point for criticism regarding the role of surveillance technology in enforcement and deportation raids. The company has been the subject of multiple street protests, highlighting growing public discontent.
Specific Allegations from Google Workers
The Google employees who signed the petition represent 16 different product areas, with approximately 30 percent coming from Google Cloud. They allege that the company's technology is being used to power what they describe as "state violence and repression."
The petition highlights the use of Google Cloud in border surveillance and the role of generative AI in enhancing "operational efficiency" for agencies that workers claim are responsible for recent civilian deaths and humanitarian crises.
Historical Precedents and Shifting Corporate Policies
Employee activism at Google is not new. In 2018, more than 4,000 employees called for the cancellation of "Project Maven," which used artificial intelligence tools to analyze drone footage. Google ultimately decided against renewing that contract and pledged not to use its AI for weapons, illegal surveillance, or technologies causing "overall harm." However, the company has since removed this pledge, raising questions about its current ethical commitments.
The latest petition argues that Google has become a "prominent node" in the history of private-sector companies profiting from repression. It demands an immediate and live Q&A session for workers regarding Google's Homeland Security and military contracts, and seeks full disclosure of ties and red lines around the use of its products for state violence.
Current Landscape of Tech Employee Protests
Employee activism has resurfaced during Trump's second term, albeit in a more muted tone due to a worsened tech job market. Workers at Microsoft Corp. have repeatedly criticized the company's work with U.S. immigration officials and the Israeli military, indicating that such concerns extend beyond Google.
This ongoing dissent underscores a broader trend of tech employees pushing for ethical accountability in corporate contracts, particularly those involving government agencies and contentious policies.
