Quick Read
- Nearly 1,000 Google employees signed an open letter on February 7, 2026.
- The letter criticizes Google’s contracts with U.S. immigration enforcement agencies (ICE, CBP).
- Employees allege Google’s technology enables surveillance, violence, and repression.
- Demands include full contract transparency, divestment, and worker protections.
- This follows similar employee activism across the tech industry.
WASHINGTON (Azat TV) – Nearly one thousand Google employees have signed an open letter, published last Friday, February 7, 2026, criticizing the technology giant’s contracts and collaborations with U.S. immigration enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The letter, titled “Googlers Demand: Worker Safety and ICE Contract Transparency,” calls for immediate transparency regarding these partnerships, a divestment from them, and enhanced protections for employees, arguing that Google’s technology is enabling surveillance, violence, and repression.
Google Employees Accuse Company of Enabling ICE Surveillance
The open letter expresses that employees are “appalled by the violence” and “horrified” by Google’s alleged role in current immigration enforcement operations across U.S. cities. Signatories specifically cite the recent killings of Keith Porter, Renee Good, and Alex Pretti as examples of the deadly outcomes of these operations, stating that Google’s technology contributes to this campaign of surveillance and repression.
According to the letter, Google Cloud is reportedly supporting CBP surveillance efforts along the border and nationwide, and is also powering Palantir’s ImmigrationOS system, which is utilized by ICE. The employees further allege that Google’s generative AI tools are being used by DHS and CBP for “workforce enablement” and “improving operational efficiency,” while the Google Play Store has blocked apps designed to track ICE activity. Additionally, YouTube has reportedly run ICE recruitment and “self-deport” advertisements. These claims underscore a growing concern among staff about the ethical implications of their labor and the use of Google’s products.
Demands for Transparency and Divestment from Immigration Contracts
The nearly 1,000 full-time Google employees who signed the letter are demanding several concrete actions from company leadership. These include a full disclosure of all contracts and collaborations with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), CBP, and ICE, along with a commitment to divest from these partnerships entirely. They are also calling for an emergency Q&A session to address concerns about government and military contracts, citing previous vague and inconsistent responses from leadership.
Beyond contract transparency, employees are urging Google to introduce robust protections for all Googlers, from cafeteria workers to data center employees, especially those with fewer protections like temporary, vendor, and contractor staff. This includes flexible work policies and immigration support, noting that ICE agents have reportedly visited Google buildings. The letter also asks for clear “red lines” regarding the permissible applications of Google Cloud and AI technology to prevent their use in what employees describe as “state violence and repression.”
Broader Tech Industry Pushback
This internal push from Google staff is not an isolated incident but part of a broader wave of employee activism sweeping across the tech industry. Just two weeks prior to Google’s letter, employees from major companies including Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta signed similar letters, urging their respective firms to cease support for federal immigration crackdowns. This trend reflects a growing sentiment among tech workers, particularly younger generations, who increasingly view their employment as an extension of their personal values and expect their companies to uphold strong ethical standards.
Google has encountered similar internal resistance in the past. In 2018, widespread employee protests led the company to cancel Project Maven, a controversial Pentagon contract involving drone technology. Despite this precedent, Google continues its work with the U.S. government through various cloud contracts and partnerships, including with defense contractor Lockheed Martin to deploy its Gemini AI models, and with Palantir, which provides technology to DHS, ICE, CBP, and the U.S. military, according to reports by the BBC.
The open letter places significant pressure on Google’s leadership to reconcile its stated commitments to ethical AI and social responsibility with its ongoing government contracts. The outcome of these employee demands will likely influence not only Google’s future policies but also the broader trajectory of corporate accountability within the technology sector, as companies grapple with the moral implications of their powerful tools.