Google, Microsoft, and others stay quiet as workers Protest ICE policies

Tech workers across major companies report frustration and fear over their leaders’ silence amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Employees at Microsoft, Google, YouTube, Abbott, and biometric firm CLEAR describe a culture where raising concerns is discouraged and public statements on ICE’s actions are rare.

Many workers point to a disconnect between corporate missions and real-world impact, with executives urging staff to focus on their jobs while ICE violence escalates nationwide. Internal forums, town halls, and company communications largely omit references to the crisis, leaving employees uncertain how to act or protect themselves. Some workers have organized petitions demanding leadership call for government action, cancel ICE-related contracts, and address worker safety concerns.

The lack of CEO statements contrasts with prior activism, such as Google and Microsoft employees’ successful protests in 2018 against Pentagon and ICE contracts, and Big Tech’s public support for Black Lives Matter in 2020. Employees express fear of retaliation for speaking out, with some describing internal whispers of dissent and hidden notes expressing helplessness.

While a few executives have addressed the situation privately—OpenAI and Apple leaders reportedly sent internal memos—most tech CEOs have remained publicly silent. Employees say this silence, combined with tech’s increasing collaborations with federal agencies, raises ethical questions about the industry’s role and the future it is shaping, particularly in AI and surveillance technologies.