Tech workers call for CEOs to speak up against ICE after the killing of Alex Pretti

"The tech industries' top leaders have a not insignificant amount of sway over the White House. But after a masked ICE agent killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday, less than a month after federal agents also shot and killed Renee Good, many are still choosing to remain silent, showing just how tied to President Trump's administration Big Tech has become."

"More than 800 tech workers from companies like Google, Meta, OpenAI, Amazon, and Salesforce have signed a letter urging their CEOs to wield their influence and call the White House to demand that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) leave U.S. cities. "Tech professionals are speaking up against this brutality, and we call on all our colleagues who share our values to use their voice," states the letter organized by ICEout.tech."

"The letter also calls on tech companies to end their contracts with ICE. AWS (Amazon Web Services) currently provides ICE with data storage services, while Motorola Solutions was awarded a $15.6 million contract in 2023 to "implement and maintain" ICE's tactical communication infrastructure. In October, Apple and Google removed apps that alerted people when ICE agents were nearby. Even Palantir employees have started openly questioning the work the company is doing with the Department of Homeland Security, according to a recentWired report."

Top tech leaders retain significant influence with the White House yet have often remained publicly silent after a masked ICE agent killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis and after federal agents shot Renee Good. More than 800 tech workers at companies including Google, Meta, OpenAI, Amazon, and Salesforce signed a letter urging CEOs to call the White House and demand that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement leave U.S. cities. The letter, organized by ICEout.tech, urged colleagues to speak out and cited prior industry leverage persuading the president to cancel a planned ICE surge in San Francisco. The letter also demanded that tech firms end contracts with ICE. AWS provides ICE data storage; Motorola Solutions won a $15.6 million 2023 contract to "implement and maintain" ICE tactical communications. Apple and Google removed apps that alerted people when ICE agents were nearby, and Palantir employees have begun questioning work with the Department of Homeland Security. Tech CEOs have publicly courted the administration while promising friendlier regulation.

Read at Fast Company