Capgemini to Sell US Subsidiary Over ICE Contract Backlash

French technology giant Capgemini has announced plans to sell its US subsidiary following backlash over its work for the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.

The decision comes after mounting pressure from French lawmakers over a contract signed by Capgemini Government Solutions, which provided services to help locate individuals for ICE enforcement operations. The controversy has intensified amid international scrutiny of ICE’s activities, particularly in Minnesota.

Public outrage has grown following the fatal shootings of US citizens Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by immigration agents in Minneapolis, incidents that sparked nationwide protests and renewed criticism of ICE practices.

Records show that since 18 December, Capgemini Government Solutions has been contracted to provide “skip tracing services for enforcement and removal operations” a process used to track individuals whose whereabouts are unknown. The subsidiary was due to receive more than $4.8m (£3.5m) for the contract, which runs until 15 March, and holds a total of 13 contracts with ICE.

In a statement, Capgemini said it had been unable “to exercise appropriate control over certain aspects of this subsidiary’s operations to ensure alignment with the Group’s objectives,” adding that the divestment process would begin immediately.

Criticism of ICE has intensified in recent weeks, particularly after the killing of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, the second US citizen fatally shot since immigration agents expanded enforcement operations in several cities under President Donald Trump’s renewed push to increase deportations. While Pretti was killed by Border Patrol officers an agency that works alongside ICE Good was shot by an ICE agent.

ICE has detained thousands since Trump returned to the White House, with enforcement actions increasingly carried out in public spaces, often triggering confrontations with protesters.

Capgemini CEO Aiman Ezzat said on LinkedIn that the company had recently become aware of the nature of the ICE contract through public sources, noting that its scope “raised questions compared to what we typically do as a business and technology firm.”

The revelations drew sharp reactions in France. Finance Minister Roland Lescure called on Capgemini to be transparent about its dealings with ICE, while left-wing MP Hadrien Clouet urged sanctions against French companies collaborating with the agency.

Founded in 1967, Capgemini is one of France’s largest listed companies, employing more than 340,000 people worldwide and valued at about €22bn (£19bn).