After boycott over DEI policy, one of the biggest US retailers now faces ‘ICE problem’: Read the memo HR chief sent to staff

Target, one of the biggest retailers in America, has is once again found itself in the middle of controversy. Last year, Target was hit by a 40-day consumer boycott over its decision to scale back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and now, the company is now facing an “ICE problem”. As armed US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents carry out detentions across the its Minneapolis hometown of Target, viral videos have surfaced appearing to show enforcement actions taking place within Target stores and parking lots. According to a report by Business Insider, this crackdown in the proximity of Target stores has sparked protests, leaving the retailer’s workforce in a state of high alert. Target, while remaining publicly silent, has sent an internal memo to staff, acknowledging the “stress many of you may be carrying”.Target’s human resources chief Melissa Kremer sent an internal memo to staff on Thursday (January 22), clarifying the company’s stance on the federal activity. She noted that the company does not have cooperative agreements with any immigration enforcement agency, and that it is “working to de-escalate where possible” when agents enter store premises.Target was among several companies that rolled back DEI initiatives. Major tech companies include Google, Meta, Amazon and Accenture. Hi team,As the situation in our community continues to evolve, I want to share a few updates for our team and acknowledge the stress many of you may be carrying as disruption in our hometown affects daily life. We remain deeply focused on caring for our team and providing the support we can.The safety and well-being of our entire team and guests matters immensely. In fact, it guides every decision we make. Over the past week, we've added new FAQs to our resource to address the most common questions we're hearing. Based on feedback, our security teams are also increasing communication with Minneapolis-based team members about expected disruption near our locations, along with guidance to help you stay safe. Field teams continue to receive updated procedures as conditions around stores and sites change.While we can't control everything happening around us, we are focused on what we can control. Senior leaders are actively engaging with government officials, community partners, faith leaders and other stakeholders. As part of these conversations, and as we shared in our FAQs, we are clear about our priorities and practices, including that Target does not have cooperative agreements with any immigration enforcement agency. We're listening and working to de-escalate where possible—while staying clear on what we need to safely operate our business and care for our team.Please continue to lean on your leaders, HR partners, Spring Health resources and one another for support. Thank you for the care you show each other and for being there for one another during this time.Sincerely,MelissaMelissa Kremer | Chief Human Resources Officer | Target