Google Staff Urge Company to Cut Ties With ICE
Synopsis
Internal turmoil is growing at Google as employees protest the company’s ties to U.S. immigration enforcement. In an open letter released this week, nearly 900 workers called for an immediate end to contracts with ICE and CBP, citing a recent "violent and deadly" crackdown on immigrants. The protest highlights a deepening divide between tech workers and executives over the ethical use of AI and cloud technology in government operations. With tensions rising, staff are demanding a "moral compass" from leadership and transparency on how their work is being used on the front lines.
SAN FRANCISCO — Hundreds of Google employees, in a rare public protest, have demanded that the tech giant sever all ties with U.S. immigration authorities. In an open letter released on Friday, February 6, 2026, nearly 900 full-time workers urged Google to cancel its contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The protest follows what staff describe as an escalation in aggressive immigration enforcement under the Trump administration that has become “violent and deadly.” Employees cited recent high-profile incidents, including the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens by federal agents during raids in Minneapolis. Workers argue that Google’s cloud infrastructure and AI tools are being used to support these “paramilitary-style” operations. Is Google’s leadership out of touch with the “moral compass” of its own workforce?
A “Mind-Boggling” Connection to Enforcement
The campaign is being led by long-time employees, including an engineer named Alex, who has spent seven years at the company. “I was proud to work at a company with an ethical compass. I’m not proud anymore,” Alex said during a public call. He described it as “abhorrent” to come to work knowing his efforts could help federal agents carry out enforcement actions.
Employees are calling on CEO Sundar Pichai and senior leadership to meet three core demands:
• Transparency: Full disclosure of how Google’s technology is being used within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
• Divestment: An immediate end to all technology support for ICE and CBP.
• Accountability: An all-hands meeting where executives answer questions about the ethics of these government contracts.
Gemini AI and Military Partnerships
The controversy extends beyond basic cloud services. In late 2025, Google entered a high-profile partnership with Lockheed Martin to deploy its Gemini AI models in secure military environments. The company also maintains a partnership with Palantir, which provides core systems used by ICE and CBP to track and identify deportation targets.
Recent reports indicate that an app called “Elite,” developed by Palantir using data integrated through multiple cloud providers, has been used to map areas for detention raids. Employees fear Google’s advanced AI is being leveraged to build detailed “dossiers” on individuals, making large-scale removals easier for federal authorities.
A History of Internal Protests
This is not the first time Google employees have clashed with management over government contracts. In 2018, thousands of workers successfully pressured the company to abandon Project Maven, a Pentagon initiative that used AI to improve drone targeting. That episode cemented a culture of internal activism that remains strong today.
Many employees say the current situation feels even more urgent. In October, Google and Apple removed apps from their stores that allowed users to report ICE agent sightings, a decision some staff viewed as siding with the government over affected communities. While Google maintains that its cloud services are “commercially available to any customer,” signatories of the letter argue that customers involved in “militarised actions against people” should be off-limits.
Key Highlights
- Nearly 900 Google employees signed a petition demanding an end to all work with ICE and CBP.
- Workers are protesting the use of Gemini AI and cloud tools in what they describe as a “violent” immigration crackdown.
- The letter follows similar employee protests at Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta in recent weeks.
- Google previously removed apps that helped people track ICE agents, triggering internal backlash.
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