OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told employees that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is “going too far” with its immigration crackdown, becoming one of the most prominent tech executives to publicly criticize federal enforcement actions following deadly incidents in Minnesota, reports Reuters.
Altman’s comments came after federal agents shot and killed a protester in Minneapolis over the weekend, the second fatal shooting involving law enforcement this month. The incidents have sparked widespread condemnation and prompted calls for de-escalation from business leaders after weeks of corporate silence.
“What’s happening with ICE is going too far,” Altman wrote in a Slack message to OpenAI employees, according to a source familiar with the matter. “There is a big difference between deporting violent criminals and what’s happening now, and we need to get the distinction right.”
“I love the U.S. and its values of democracy and freedom and will be supportive of the country however I can; OpenAI will too,” Altman added in the message, first reported by the New York Times’ DealBook. “But part of loving the country is the American duty to push back against overreach.”
Altman’s remarks come amid internal tensions at Khosla Ventures, an early OpenAI backer. Founder Vinod Khosla and partner Ethan Choi distanced themselves from comments by fellow partner Keith Rabois, who said over the weekend that law enforcement had not shot an innocent person and claimed undocumented immigrants commit crimes on a daily basis.
Many U.S. companies have been hesitant to criticize President Donald Trump during his second term. Since the launch of “Operation Metro Surge” in Minneapolis in December, major Minnesota-based corporations had largely avoided public comment on the impact of immigration enforcement in the liberal-leaning city and corporate hub.
That changed after the second shooting. Executives from companies including 3M, UnitedHealth Group and General Mills have since called for de-escalation.
Employee activism has also intensified. More than 450 workers from companies such as Google, Meta Platforms, Salesforce and OpenAI signed a letter over the weekend urging senior executives to pressure the White House to withdraw ICE from U.S. cities, cancel contracts with the agency and publicly denounce what they described as ICE’s violence.
“President Trump is a very strong leader, and I hope he will rise to this moment and unite the country,” Altman wrote. “I am encouraged by the last few hours of response and hope to see trust rebuilt with transparent investigations.”
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
