Follow-up stories:
- Microsoft CEO calls border policy ‘cruel and abusive,’ says company’s technology isn’t aiding separation of parents and children
- Microsoft employees ask company to cancel contract with ICE in open letter to CEO
Following criticism over a cloud contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Microsoft issued a statement on Monday and said it was “dismayed” by the separation of families and children at the border.
Microsoft was called out on social media after users resurfaced a January blog post highlighting its work with ICE. Bloomberg reported that the reference to ICE in the post was removed but then later replaced on Monday.
Friends who work for @Microsoft,
FIGHT THIS. Make the biggest noise imaginable about it.
Don't fall for the "all companies take government contracts" spin. Your company has THIS contract and is *proud* of it.
Resources are available to help you fight. I believe in you.? https://t.co/P19aEWR45n
— EricaJoy (@EricaJoy) June 18, 2018
I’ve terminated my contract with @Microsoft.https://t.co/GkvLBXxFjs
They have an outstanding invoice which, upon receipt, I will be donating to https://t.co/TIlNWOGSQS
— Mat Marquis (@wilto) June 18, 2018
The Trump administration has come under fire this month for its policy of separating parents and migrant children at the border.
Here’s the full statement from Microsoft:
“As a company, Microsoft is dismayed by the forcible separation of children from their families at the border. Family unification has been a fundamental tenant of American policy and law since the end of World War II. As a company Microsoft has worked for over 20 years to combine technology with the rule of law to ensure that children who are refugees and immigrants can remain with their parents. We need to continue to build on this noble tradition rather than change course now. We urge the administration to change its policy and Congress to pass legislation ensuring children are no longer separated from their families.”
Update: Microsoft issued a revised statement later on Tuesday, adding that the Microsoft products are not being used specifically for the separation of families at the U.S.-Mexico border:
“In response to questions we want to be clear: Microsoft is not working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or U.S. Customs and Border Protection on any projects related to separating children from their families at the border, and contrary to some speculation, we are not aware of Azure or Azure services being used for this purpose. As a company, Microsoft is dismayed by the forcible separation of children from their families at the border. Family unification has been a fundamental tenet of American policy and law since the end of World War II. As a company Microsoft has worked for over 20 years to combine technology with the rule of law to ensure that children who are refugees and immigrants can remain with their parents. We need to continue to build on this noble tradition rather than change course now. We urge the administration to change its policy and Congress to pass legislation ensuring children are no longer separated from their families.”
Bloomberg reported that Microsoft has more than $19 million in active cloud contracts with ICE.
Microsoft President Brad Smith addressed the border controversy in a blog post on LinkedIn this weekend.
“When we keep children with their parents, we not only follow in the footsteps of one of the world’s oldest and most important humanitarian traditions, we help build a stronger country,” he wrote.
Microsoft has previously taken a stance on immigration-related issues. The company and Princeton University sued the Trump administration in November claiming that attempts to end DACA, a program that allows undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to study and work in the country, violate both the U.S Constitution and federal law. A federal judge sided with Microsoft and Princeton but the legal future of the program is still uncertain.
Tech giants are facing increasing scrutiny in regard to their work with the government. Amazon saw pushback this week on selling its facial recognition software to police, and Google said it won’t seek additional business related to a controversial artificial intelligence project it signed last year with the Department of Defense.
