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Business and technology leaders in the United States have voiced mounting concern over federal immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shot and killed a protester, Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old nurse.
The incident has led to calls for restraint, internal staff messages from major companies, and statements from corporate figures, as enforcement efforts under “Operation Metro Surge” continue in the city.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told employees in an internal message that ICE is “going too far” with its immigration crackdown, becoming the latest corporate executive to voice concerns about heavy enforcement actions in Minnesota. More than 60 CEOs have signed a statement calling for de-escalation after weeks of silence.
“What’s happening with ICE is going too far,” Altman wrote in a Slack message to employees of the ChatGPT maker, a source familiar with the matter said. “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 said in his message, which was first reported by the New York Times’ DealBook. “But part of loving the country is the American duty to push back against overreach.”
Altman added, “President Trump is a very strong leader, and I hope he will rise to this moment and unite the country. I am encouraged by the last few hours of response and hope to see trust rebuilt with transparent investigations.”
Apple CEO Tim Cook also weighed in on the incident and said that he was “heartbroken” by the events in Minneapolis and called for “de-escalation”, Bloomberg reported later on Tuesday, citing an internal memo to employees.
Cook also said he had discussed the matter with US President Donald Trump, according to the report.
Altman’s comments come as a rift has emerged at Khosla Ventures, an early OpenAI backer. Founder Vinod Khosla and partner Ethan Choi disavowed comments from partner Keith Rabois over the weekend that law enforcement had not shot an innocent person and that illegal immigrants commit crimes on a daily basis.
A number of businesses have been hesitant to criticise Trump during his second term. Since the beginning of “Operation Metro Surge” in Minneapolis in December, major Minnesota corporations had been largely silent about the effects of the immigration enforcement efforts on the city, a liberal Midwestern stronghold as well as a major corporate hub.
Leaders of companies such as 3M, UnitedHealth Group and General Mills have called for de-escalation since the second shooting over the weekend.
More than 450 employees from firms like Google, Meta Platforms, Salesforce and OpenAI signed a letter on Saturday urging their top executives to pressure the White House to withdraw ICE from US cities, cancel all contracts with ICE and speak out publicly against ICE’s violence.
The incident has led to calls for restraint, internal staff messages from major companies, and statements from corporate figures, as enforcement efforts under “Operation Metro Surge” continue in the city.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told employees in an internal message that ICE is “going too far” with its immigration crackdown, becoming the latest corporate executive to voice concerns about heavy enforcement actions in Minnesota. More than 60 CEOs have signed a statement calling for de-escalation after weeks of silence.
Altman message to staff
“What’s happening with ICE is going too far,” Altman wrote in a Slack message to employees of the ChatGPT maker, a source familiar with the matter said. “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 said in his message, which was first reported by the New York Times’ DealBook. “But part of loving the country is the American duty to push back against overreach.”
Altman added, “President Trump is a very strong leader, and I hope he will rise to this moment and unite the country. I am encouraged by the last few hours of response and hope to see trust rebuilt with transparent investigations.”
Apple chief and White House contact
Apple CEO Tim Cook also weighed in on the incident and said that he was “heartbroken” by the events in Minneapolis and called for “de-escalation”, Bloomberg reported later on Tuesday, citing an internal memo to employees.
Cook also said he had discussed the matter with US President Donald Trump, according to the report.
Investor rift emerges
Altman’s comments come as a rift has emerged at Khosla Ventures, an early OpenAI backer. Founder Vinod Khosla and partner Ethan Choi disavowed comments from partner Keith Rabois over the weekend that law enforcement had not shot an innocent person and that illegal immigrants commit crimes on a daily basis.
A number of businesses have been hesitant to criticise Trump during his second term. Since the beginning of “Operation Metro Surge” in Minneapolis in December, major Minnesota corporations had been largely silent about the effects of the immigration enforcement efforts on the city, a liberal Midwestern stronghold as well as a major corporate hub.
Leaders of companies such as 3M, UnitedHealth Group and General Mills have called for de-escalation since the second shooting over the weekend.
More than 450 employees from firms like Google, Meta Platforms, Salesforce and OpenAI signed a letter on Saturday urging their top executives to pressure the White House to withdraw ICE from US cities, cancel all contracts with ICE and speak out publicly against ICE’s violence.
