Employees at Google DeepMind are pressing leadership for concrete plans to safeguard them from potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions while on company grounds. The demand follows recent events, including the fatal shooting of Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents, which has heightened concerns among staff.
Rising Fears Within AI Firms
On Monday, a DeepMind employee sent an internal message questioning what measures are in place to ensure physical safety from ICE, citing the escalating tactics of federal operatives. The message received over 20 reactions, indicating widespread anxiety among the roughly 3,000-person AI unit. Despite this, Google’s top executives – including CEO Sundar Pichai and DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis – have remained publicly silent on Pretti’s death, even internally.
This internal unrest reflects a broader trend of growing division between AI companies and their employees regarding ICE’s actions. While Silicon Valley CEOs have largely avoided direct confrontation with the Trump administration, rank-and-file employees are increasingly vocal about government overreach.
Past Incidents and Company Responses
Concerns about ICE agents entering company premises are not new. A previous incident in Cambridge, Massachusetts, saw a federal agent attempt to enter a Google DeepMind office without a warrant, but was denied entry by security. Google declined to comment on the matter.
The situation is further complicated by the reliance of many Silicon Valley firms on foreign workers with visas. Following stricter vetting procedures implemented by the White House last year, Google and Apple advised employees on visas to avoid leaving the country.
Executive Silence
Despite the heightened tensions, most AI executives have been reluctant to publicly address ICE’s actions. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman did acknowledge the Minnesota incident internally, calling it “going too far,” but broader statements from major tech leaders such as OpenAI, Meta, xAI, Apple, and Amazon remain absent.
Employee Dissent
Dissent is not limited to Google DeepMind. Employees at Palantir, a defense tech firm that works with ICE, have openly questioned the company’s involvement, with one Slack message stating: “ICE are the bad guys. I am not proud that the company I enjoy so much working for is part of this.”
Similar discussions have occurred at OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and Meta, where employees have debated pushing leaders to sever ties with Palantir. Jeff Dean, Google DeepMind’s chief scientist, has also publicly criticized ICE on X, calling the shooting of Alex Pretti “absolutely shameful.”
The growing pressure from employees underscores a fundamental disconnect between corporate leadership and the workforce on issues of immigration enforcement and federal overreach.
The situation highlights the ethical and security risks facing AI firms as they navigate increasingly aggressive government tactics, while their own employees demand greater protection and accountability.
