Global Firms Cut Ties With ICE As Protests And Pressure Mount

A growing international backlash against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is pushing companies well beyond America’s borders to cut business ties with the agency, as protests and political pressure intensify following the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

French consulting giant Capgemini confirmed it will sell a U.S. subsidiary that does work for ICE, after facing mounting scrutiny over a Department of Homeland Security contract awarded in December. The $4.8 million deal involved providing “skip tracing services” — a practice used to locate hard-to-find individuals using online data and public records.

Capgemini CEO Aiman Ezzat said the nature of the work raised concerns and fell outside the company’s core mission. The decision followed revelations by Paris-based watchdog Multinationals Observatory and questions from France’s finance and economy minister. Archived company materials indicated the unit was assisting ICE in removing “all removable illegal aliens” from the U.S.

Capgemini said legal restrictions tied to government contracts prevented it from exercising sufficient oversight to ensure the work aligned with its values. The subsidiary accounted for just 0.4% of Capgemini’s global revenue in 2025.

The backlash has spread to Canada. British Columbia Green Party leader Emily Lowan has called for a boycott of businesses owned by billionaire Jim Pattison unless his companies sever links with ICE. Shortly after, Jim Pattison Developments said it would not proceed with the sale of a Virginia warehouse intended to support ICE operations.

Social media firm Hootsuite has also come under fire. Protesters gathered outside its Vancouver headquarters, demanding it end work with ICE’s public affairs office. CEO Irina Novoselsky defended the company’s role but acknowledged public outrage, citing the “loss of life and fear” caused by recent enforcement actions.

American companies are following suit. Property owners in Oklahoma City withdrew from talks with DHS, a move praised by the city’s mayor, while major retailers Target and Best Buy have urged de-escalation.

Key Takeaways:

• Capgemini is selling a U.S. unit after scrutiny over ICE-related work.

• Canadian firms face boycotts and protests over links to U.S. immigration enforcement.

• Corporate pressure on ICE is accelerating amid deaths, protests, and political fallout.

SOURCE: CNN

Boycott, divestment, sactions. Now, if only the three giant private prison corporations refuse ICE prisoners, the battle is won. Of course, they get paid $152-217 per day per prisoner. Think any of that filters down to the prisoner or staff? Dream on...

Strange that they didn't boycott ICE when Obama was deporting them even faster, or when Biden lost track of hundreds of thousands of kids that were turned loose to unvetted sponsors.