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Google employees challenge company's ties to immigration enforcement
Nearly 900 Google employees signed an open letter Friday urging leadership to disclose how the company's technology supports federal agencies involved in immigration crackdowns, citing recent violent incidents tied to enforcement operations.
Employee backlash grows
A seven-year Google veteran, identified as Alex, told colleagues in a post-letter call that the company's continued collaboration with agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) was "mind-boggling."
"I joined Google believing it had a moral compass," Alex said. "That's no longer something I can claim."
Another employee, referred to as S, said she would have rejected a job offer had she known about Google's federal contracts. "This isn't the company I thought I was joining," she said. "I never wanted to work for a military contractor."
Recent enforcement actions spark outrage
The letter follows a surge in federal immigration operations under the Trump administration, including armed raids in multiple cities. Two high-profile killings of U.S. citizens observing these operations have intensified scrutiny of tech companies' roles.
In October, Google removed apps from its store that allowed users to track ICE agents, mirroring a similar move by Apple. Employees argue these actions highlight the company's indirect support for enforcement activities.
Demands for accountability
The open letter calls for Google to:
- End all technology contracts with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE, and CBP;
- Protect employees from immigration enforcement repercussions;
- Host an all-hands meeting to address concerns.
Signatories, whose employment was verified via corporate accounts, accuse leadership-including CEO Sundar Pichai-of failing to clarify the scope of Google's federal work.
Broader tech industry pressure
The Google letter echoes a separate appeal two weeks prior, signed by hundreds of workers at Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta, urging all tech firms to cut ties with federal immigration enforcement.
Google's partnerships extend beyond cloud services. Last year, it collaborated with Lockheed Martin to integrate Gemini AI into unspecified products and with Palantir, whose systems power DHS, ICE, CBP, and all six U.S. military branches.
Leadership silent
A Google spokesperson declined to comment on the letter or the employees' demands.
