**Tech Leaders Can’t Keep Silent on ICE’s Brutal Practices Anymore**
As I sit down to write this, I’m still reeling from the latest news of violence at the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brokers. Eight people, including two American citizens in Minneapolis, are no longer with us. The thought of the horror and pain their families and friends are going through is almost too much to bear. It’s long overdue for tech leaders to speak out against the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration.
For years, I’ve watched with interest as the tech industry navigates its complex relationship with politics. Some companies, like Palantir and Clearview AI, have provided services to ICE, while others, like Elon Musk, have taken on high-profile roles in government. But for too long, many tech leaders have remained mum on the subject. That silence is no longer an option.
**ICEout.tech’s Call to Action**
The group ICEout.tech, comprising tech professionals opposing ICE, has issued a stark warning: “Big tech CEOs are in the White House tonight… Now they need to go further, and be part of us in demanding ICE out of all our cities.” It’s a call to action that I believe resonates loud and clear.
**Tech Leaders Are Breaking Their Silence**
In recent days, I’ve been heartened to see more and more tech executives taking a stand. Here are a few examples:
* Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder: Hoffman wrote a powerful op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle, urging Silicon Valley to take a stand against the Trump administration’s policies. “We can’t stay neutral in the face of such injustice,” he argued.
* Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO: In an internal Slack message, Altman told employees that ICE’s actions are “going too far.” “We should be prepared to speak out,” he added.
* Dario Amodei, Anthropic CEO: Amodei has been vocal in defending democratic values and has condemned ICE’s raids in Minneapolis.
* Tim Cook, Apple CEO: In an internal memo, Cook called for de-escalation and shared his views with the president.
* Meredith Whittaker, Signal President: Whittaker, a vocal advocate for social justice, has called on her colleagues to condemn ICE’s actions.
* Tony Stubblebine, Medium CEO: Stubblebine has allowed employees to participate in a national general strike if they want, and has spoken out against the Trump administration’s policies.
* Jeff Dean, Google DeepMind Chief Scientist: Dean called the killings in Minnesota “completely shameful.”
* James Dyett, OpenAI’s Head of Global Business: Dyett highlighted the hypocrisy in the tech industry, noting that there may be more outrage over a wealth tax than over ICE’s actions.
**Not All Tech Leaders Are Condemning ICE**
Not everyone is speaking out, however. Khosla Ventures associate Keith Rabois has expressed support for ICE and the Trump administration’s policies, sparking a backlash from other founders.
As the tech industry grapples with its relationship to politics, it’s clear that silence is no longer an option. The industry’s leaders must speak out against ICE’s brutal practices and demand change. What happens next? Will the industry’s leaders step up and take a stand against the Trump administration’s policies? We’ll have to wait and see.
