Following the death of Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents on Saturday, employees at data analytics firm Palantir Technologies have intensified internal scrutiny of the company’s partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The debate centers on whether Palantir’s technology is contributing to aggressive immigration enforcement practices, with some workers questioning the ethical and business implications of continued collaboration.
Growing Internal Discontent
Internal Slack messages obtained by WIRED reveal significant employee frustration regarding Palantir’s role in supporting DHS, particularly ICE’s enforcement operations. One worker wrote, “Our involvement with ICE has been internally swept under the rug for too long. We need transparency about what we’re doing here.” Others directly asked if Palantir could exert any influence over ICE to prevent abuses, citing reports of asylum seekers and legal residents being detained without justification.
The company’s response, led by global director of privacy and civil liberties engineering Courtney Bowman, involved directing employees to an internal wiki detailing Palantir’s work on federal immigration enforcement. According to the wiki, updated January 24 by CTO Akash Jain, Palantir is actively supporting ICE in three key areas: “Enforcement Operations Prioritization and Targeting,” “Self-Deportation Tracking,” and “Immigration Lifecycle Operations.”
The $30 Million ImmigrationOS Contract
These functions align with a $30 million contract awarded to Palantir in April for its ImmigrationOS platform, designed to provide ICE with “near real-time visibility” into self-deportations and facilitate targeted deportations. The pilot program, initially six months, was extended in September, with self-deportation tracking now integrated into broader enforcement operations. Palantir is also piloting a new system with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to identify alleged fraudulent benefit submissions, a tactic previously used to justify increased ICE activity in cities like Minneapolis.
Limited Oversight and Data Expansion
Palantir acknowledges the “reputational risk” associated with immigration enforcement but maintains that its technology enables “more precise, informed decisions.” The company admits it does not actively police how ICE uses its platform, allowing for potential misuse, including the integration of external data sources beyond contractual agreements. This raises concerns about expanded surveillance capabilities targeting both migrants and citizens.
Escalating Concerns Over Data Surveillance
Recent incidents, including a video shared by journalist Ken Klippenstein showing an ICE agent documenting a legal observer as a “domestic terrorist,” have further fueled employee anxieties. One worker asked leadership if Palantir was providing the database referenced in the video, to which Jain replied, “Ack, I’m not tracking any database like this that we’re involved with.” Palantir insists it does not enable direct access to third-agency databases outside of established data sharing agreements, though ICE has expanded such partnerships, including with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
A History of Government Contracts
Palantir’s involvement with the federal government has grown significantly since 2017, securing over $900 million in contracts, including projects with the US military and the Internal Revenue Service. Despite this growth, internal criticism persists, with some workers questioning the ethical implications of supporting aggressive enforcement policies.
Ultimately, Palantir’s continued partnership with ICE raises serious questions about its role in enabling controversial immigration practices, with internal dissent highlighting the growing tension between profit and ethical responsibility.
