How what happened at Minnesota seems to have made tech industry bigwigs break silence on ICE

Last week’s fatal shooting of nurse Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol agent in Minnesota has sparked widespread outrage throughout America, including the country’s corporate and technology communities. Following the death of the 37-year-old US citizen and Veterans Affairs nurse, over 60 CEOs from Minnesota's major corporations, including Target, 3M, and UnitedHealth Group, issued a joint letter calling for “immediate de-escalation”. Initially, only a handful of tech leaders voiced their condemnation on social media but soon, Silicon Valley heavyweights like Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke against the action taken by federal agents in Minneapolis.The spark started when ICE agents in Minnesota shot Renee Nicole Good, 37, killing her on January 7. Pretti, the second fatality in the same month in the same city, was killed on Saturday morning, January 24, while recording federal agents. While authorities stated he threatened officers with a legally owned firearm social media footage allegedly shows he was shot after being disarmed and restrained. The video recorded by bystanders went viral on social media, triggering a strom against the actions of ICE agents, who have been ordered to stop, detain and arrest people they suspect of being in the US illegally. They can use deadly force "if the person poses a serious danger to them or other people, or the person has committed a violent crime", as per an expert (via the BBC).As the videos went viral, several tech leaders slammed the actions, calling it absolutely shameful and ICE agents murderers. Soon, a letter was signed by 60 CEOs of Minnesota companies, demanding an “immediate de-escalation of tensions" and called on officials to "work together to find real solutions.” The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce released the letter on behalf of more than 60 CEOs.The business community in Minnesota prides itself in providing leadership and solving problems to ensure a strong and vibrant state. The recent challenges facing our state have created widespread disruption and tragic loss of life. For the past several weeks, representatives of Minnesota’s business community have been working every day behind the scenes with federal, state and local officials to advance real solutions. These efforts have included close communication with the Governor, the White House, the Vice President and local mayors. There are ways for us to come together to foster progress. With yesterday’s tragic news, we are calling for an immediate deescalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions. We have been working for generations to build a strong and vibrant state here in Minnesota and will do so in the months and years ahead with equal and even greater commitment. In this difficult moment for our community, we call for peace and focused cooperation among local, state and federal leaders to achieve a swift and durable solution that enables families, businesses, our employees, and communities across Minnesota to resume our work to build a bright and prosperous future. While the Minnesota CEOs focused on “de-escalation,” the reaction from Silicon Valley was condemning. Leaders like Tim Cook, Jeff Dean (chief scientist at Google DeepMind), OpenAI CEO Sam Altman were among scores of leaders who have spoken out against the actions. While some sent internal memos, other scribbled their thoughts on social media. Here’s a list of key figures who condemned the shooting and what they said. Team,I’m heartbroken by the events in Minneapolis, and my prayers and deepest sympathies are with the families, with the communities, and with everyone that’s been affected.This is a time for deescalation. I believe America is strongest when we live up to our highest ideals, when we treat everyone with dignity and respect no matter who they are or where they’re from, and when we embrace our shared humanity. This is something Apple has always advocated for. I had a good conversation with the president this week where I shared my views, and I appreciate his openness to engaging on issues that matter to us all.I know this is very emotional and challenging for so many. I am proud of how deeply our teams care about the world beyond our walls. That empathy is one of Apple’s greatest strengths and it is something I believe we all cherish.Thank you for all that you do.TimThis is absolutely shameful. Agents of a federal agency unnecessarily escalating, and then executing a defenseless citizen whose offense appears to be using his cell phone camera. Every person regardless of political affiliation should be denouncing this.He had a gun that he was legally allowed to carry, per NY Times. He did not reach for his gun, and videos showed an officer had disarmed him before he was shot multiple times in an unarmed state.I love the US and its values of democracy and freedom and will be supportive of the country however I can; OpenAI will too. But part of loving the country is the American duty to push back against overreach. What's happening with ICE is going too far. There is a big difference between deporting violent criminals and what's happening now, and we need to get the distinction right.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.As a company, we aim to stick to our convictions and not get blown around by changing fashions too much. We didn't become super woke when that was popular, we didn't start talking about masculine corporate energy when that was popular, and we are not going to make a lot of performative statements now about safety or politics or anything else. But we are going to continue to try to figure out how to actually do the right thing as best as we can, engage with leaders and push for our values, and speak up clearly about it as needed.Yann LeCun, Meta’s former chief AI scientist and now executive chairman at AMI Labs, reposted a video of the shooting, and wrote: “Murderers.”I try to not talk about politics…But recent events—a federal agent killing an ICU nurse for seemingly no reason and with no provocation—shock the conscience…I immigrated to the United States—and eventually cofounded Anthropic here—believing it was a pillar of these principles.My deep loyalty is to the principles of classical liberal democracy: freedom of speech, the rule of law, the dignity of the human person. I immigrated to the United States — and eventually cofounded Anthropic here — believing it was a pillar of these principles. I feel very sad today.The deaths of Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti are unconscionable and weighing heavily on so many of our hearts. No one in the United States should ever have to fear losing their life for taking peaceful, principled action in support of their beliefs. Our country is not our government—our country is us, we the people. For 250 years, we have been bound together by bedrock values, the rule of law, and inalienable rights. There is nothing more American than exercising our rights and holding our government accountable. Our democracy depends on it.There is far more outrage from tech leaders over a wealth tax than masked ICE agents terrorizing communities and executing civilians in the streets. Tells you what you need to know about the values of our industry.Y Combinator group partner David Lieb, sharing an analysis of the footage, wrote: "Each side is going to see what they want to see…I know what I see, which is another citizen killed for no good reason…our government is deliberately choosing to put citizens in this situation. It needs to stop. They work for us."Microsoft's chief scientific officer posted a screenshot of a statement from Alex Pretti's parents with the caption “Anguish and pursuit of truth” on X. Horvitz also wrote on X, “Values, service, and character,” in response to a video posted by CBS News.Garry Tan, the CEO of startup accelerator Y Combinator, said in a post on X that the “Minneapolis tragedy is truly sad,” and he wanted “order and peace.”Remind yourself politics is local not national. I'm going to keep fighting for my city.If someone had predicted before the last election that if Trump won, federal officers would be shooting Americans in the streets, he'd have been dismissed as an alarmist.Masked agents of the US state are executing people in the streets and powerful leaders are openly lying to cover for them. To everyone in my industry who's ever claimed to value freedom—draw on the courage of your convictions and stand up.I can’t go to Minneapolis. And it’s only a matter of time before they show up in force here in the Bay Area…I’m researching local organizations that support immigrants…I’m calling my congressmen and women and asking them not to approve ICE funding without major reform to how the organization is run…Ethan Choi: I want to make it clear that Keith doesn’t represent everyone’s views here at @khoslaventures, at least not mine. What happened in Minnesota is plain wrong. Don’t know how you could really see it differently. Sad to see a person’s life taken unnecessarily.I agree with @EthanChoi7. Macho ICE vigilantes running amuck empowered by a conscious-less administration. The video was sickening to watch and the storytelling without facts or with invented fictitious facts by authorities almost unimaginable in a civilized society. ICE personnel must have ice water running thru their veins to treat other human beings this way. There is politics but humanity should transcend that.What is it about Minneapolis that the two tragic ICE shootings took place there within two or so weeks of each other? Could it really be a coincidence?It is almost as if the governor of Minnesota called for protestors to intervene in ICE enforcements in an incendiary manner?Inciting the people to rise up against law enforcement is guaranteed to end badly, and now we have seen the tragic consequences. @GovTimWalz and those that emulate him, it is time to take the temperature down before more lives are lost.Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder, amplified calls for Americans to “stand up” to the administration by resharing a number of posts on X, saying, “It's time for all Americans to do so.”Tech demands ICE out of our citiesWe are tech industry professionals in the United States.We all witnessed ICE brutally kill a US citizen on the streets of Minneapolis. Then, the Trump administration brazenly lied about what happened.We didn’t get here overnight. For months now, Trump has sent federal agents to our cities to criminalize us, our neighbors, friends, colleagues, and family members. From Minneapolis to Los Angeles to Chicago, we’ve seen armed and masked thugs bring reckless violence, kidnapping, terror and cruelty with no end in sight.This cannot continue, and we know the tech industry can make a difference. When Trump threatened to send the national guard to San Francisco in October, tech industry leaders called the White House. It worked: Trump backed down.Today we’re calling on our CEOs to pick up the phone again: 1. Call the White House and demand that ICE leave our cities.2. Cancel all company contracts with ICE.3. Speak out publicly against ICE’s violence.We want to be proud to work in tech. We want to be proud of the companies we work for. We can and must use our leverage to end this violence.