politics
February 11, 2026
‘Shut up and focus on the mission’: Tech workers are frustrated by their companies’ silence about ICE
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TL;DR
- Tech workers are reportedly being told to "shut up and focus on the mission" amid an immigration crackdown by the Trump administration's Department of Homeland Security and ICE.
- Many tech CEOs have remained publicly silent on the issue, leading to a culture of fear and silence among employees at companies like Microsoft, YouTube, and Google.
- Internal company forums and town halls have shown a lack of discussion regarding ICE's actions and the resulting protests, with some employees seeking guidance on legal protections.
- This silence is a departure from previous instances where tech workers organized protests and petitions against company contracts with government agencies, such as ICE and the Pentagon.
- Some tech leaders have privately urged deescalation and expressed hope for President Trump to address the situation, while others, like Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, have spoken out against ICE's violence.
- There is a growing movement among tech employees, with petitions demanding that CEOs publicly condemn ICE's violence, cancel ICE contracts, and call for ICE to leave cities.
- Employees express deep frustration and concern about their companies' perceived alignment with the Trump administration and the potential for technology to be used for state repression.
- Despite CEO silence, some non-executive employees and leaders have spoken out, criticizing the industry's values and the lack of support for workers affected by the situation.
- Workers at companies like Abbott and CLEAR also report a lack of communication and preparedness regarding ICE activity, contributing to a state of hypervigilance and distrust in technology's use.
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