Business

ICE Loses Business Partners as Protests Intensify

Shivangi

Feb 3, 2026 6:17 PM IST

Category Business

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Synopsis

A wave of corporate backlash is intensifying against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as companies throughout the world continue to cancel contracts and divest divisions with ties to the agency. Businesses including the French tech power Capgemini and Canadian billionaire Jim Pattison are pulling back from federal enforcement after deadly episodes in Minnesota and after national protests. The transformation is a significant milestone, as public anger over government operations now affects the balance sheets of some of the world’s largest international companies.

The scrutiny of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is not simply a matter of running against political currents; it’s hurting multinational businesses. Over the last week, several large companies have announced they are ending their work with the agency. And the movement is one that’s going global, firms in France and Canada determine that public backlash is too great a price to pay for government contracts.

On Sunday, the French technology giant Capgemini generated headlines when it said it would sell off an entire division in the United States that dealt with ICE. The action came after it was reported that the company had a $4.8 million contract helping the agency track down hard-to-find people. Capgemini’s CEO said that this wasn’t the kind of work the company as a tech firm normally does. That move came in response to concerns from the French government and a watchdog group that raised questions about how the tech was being used to expedite deportations.

Scrutiny Reaches into Canada

Large Canadian corporations have also been targeted. Billionaires with one foot in the supermarket business became embroiled in controversy, including Jim Pattison, whose empire includes grocery chains and car dealerships. The backlash began after it emerged that one of his real estate companies was negotiating to sell a massive warehouse in northern Virginia to the government to support ICE operations. By Friday, the deal collapsed, though the company did not give a specific reason for the abrupt reversal.

Hootsuite, the social media company, has faced protests outside its Vancouver headquarters. Critics are calling on the firm to stop providing tools to ICE’s public relations office. While company leaders say their technology is not used for surveillance, they acknowledged the “devastating” fear being felt in communities and said they want to distance themselves from the current enforcement actions.

American Brands Join the De-escalation

The trend of “ditching” ICE is gaining momentum in the United States as well. In Oklahoma City, property owners backed out of a deal to lease space to the Department of Homeland Security after the mayor and residents raised objections. The mayor praised the owners for listening to community concerns and deciding not to move forward.

This corporate retreat follows a series of tragic events in Minnesota, where federal agents were involved in the fatal shootings of two people. Those incidents triggered large-scale “National Shutdown” protests that closed schools and businesses nationwide. Major retailers such as Target and Best Buy, both based in Minnesota, have called for a “de-escalation,” signalling that even America’s biggest brands are increasingly worried about the social and economic consequences of current enforcement tactics.

Key Highlights

• Global Exit: French tech firm Capgemini is selling its U.S. arm to end business with ICE.
• Property Sales Cancelled: Major real estate owners in Canada and Oklahoma have halted deals for buildings intended for ICE use.
• Public Pressure: Companies are turning away from millions in contracts after facing boycotts and protests tied to government enforcement.

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