French technology giant Capgemini has announced it will sell its US subsidiary after its work locating people for immigration enforcement agency ICE sparked outrage. Capgemini has come under pressure from French lawmakers over a contract its subsidiary signed with ICE, amid international scrutiny over the methods used by the agency's agents in Minnesota.
The fatal shooting of US citizens Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis has sparked protests across the US and led to increased scrutiny of the agency.
Capgemini Government Solutions has been under contract since December 18 to provide skip tracing services for enforcement and removal operations, public records show. Skip tracing services locate individuals whose whereabouts are unknown.
Capgemini is set to be paid more than $4.8 million for its work tracing people for ICE, which is due to continue until March 15, US government listings show. It is one of 13 contracts the subsidiary holds with ICE.
Capgemini, one of the largest listed companies in France, said it had not been able to exercise appropriate control over certain aspects of this subsidiary's operations in order to ensure alignment with the Group's objectives. The company added that the divestiture process of this business will be initiated immediately.
Criticism of ICE practices has intensified in recent weeks since the shooting of 37-year-old Pretti, the second fatal shooting of a US citizen since immigration agents began operations in several cities across the US, driven by an increase in deportations.
Last week, Capgemini's CEO Aiman Ezzat stated that the nature of the contract awarded to Capgemini Government Solutions by DHS' Immigration and Customs Enforcement raised questions compared to what the company typically does as a business and technology firm. French politicians have demanded transparency over the contracts Capgemini holds with ICE, with Finance Minister Roland Lescure calling for clarity on the issue, while opposition MP Hadrien Clouet called for sanctions against French firms collaborating with ICE.
The fatal shooting of US citizens Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis has sparked protests across the US and led to increased scrutiny of the agency.
Capgemini Government Solutions has been under contract since December 18 to provide skip tracing services for enforcement and removal operations, public records show. Skip tracing services locate individuals whose whereabouts are unknown.
Capgemini is set to be paid more than $4.8 million for its work tracing people for ICE, which is due to continue until March 15, US government listings show. It is one of 13 contracts the subsidiary holds with ICE.
Capgemini, one of the largest listed companies in France, said it had not been able to exercise appropriate control over certain aspects of this subsidiary's operations in order to ensure alignment with the Group's objectives. The company added that the divestiture process of this business will be initiated immediately.
Criticism of ICE practices has intensified in recent weeks since the shooting of 37-year-old Pretti, the second fatal shooting of a US citizen since immigration agents began operations in several cities across the US, driven by an increase in deportations.
Last week, Capgemini's CEO Aiman Ezzat stated that the nature of the contract awarded to Capgemini Government Solutions by DHS' Immigration and Customs Enforcement raised questions compared to what the company typically does as a business and technology firm. French politicians have demanded transparency over the contracts Capgemini holds with ICE, with Finance Minister Roland Lescure calling for clarity on the issue, while opposition MP Hadrien Clouet called for sanctions against French firms collaborating with ICE.
