Story perspectives

450 Tech Workers Demand ICE Removal After Tragedy

1/31/2026

Summary

Story summary

More than 450 Silicon Valley tech employees signed a letter urging U.S. leaders to remove ICE from U.S. cities, a reaction to the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Public statements by Reid Hoffman and Jeff Dean emboldened workers who had feared retaliation.
The White House defended ICE, calling its officers "heroic."
Tech workers express ongoing concern about backlash for speaking out.

History

Historical Context

The 2017 protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were fueled by controversial immigration policies and the deportation of over 300,000 individuals during the Obama administration. The recent killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis intensified activism among tech workers, with over 450 demanding ICE's removal from cities, reflecting a significant shift in the tech industry's stance on immigration and civil rights.

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Story summary

More than 450 Silicon Valley tech employees signed a letter urging U.S. leaders to remove ICE from U.S. cities, a reaction to the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Public statements by Reid Hoffman and Jeff Dean emboldened workers who had feared retaliation.
The White House defended ICE, calling its officers "heroic."
Tech workers express ongoing concern about backlash for speaking out.

1 / 2