Palantir Executive Defends Role in Immigration Surveillance Amid $30 Million ICE Contract

• Co-founder of Y Combinator criticized Palantir’s collaboration with ICE to create ImmigrationOS for $30 million. 
• Palantir Global Head of Commercial Sales Ted Mabre defends the company’s work with ICE.
• Mabre addressed the ethical concerns over technology companies contributing to invasive surveillance operations.

Palantir Technologies is under scrutiny for its involvement in government surveillance for a $30 million contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Global Head of Commercial Sales Ted Mabre defends the company.

The contract enables the development of the "Immigration Lifecycle Operating System" (ImmigrationOS), a platform designed to assist ICE in identifying deportation targets and monitoring “self-deportations” in real time.

The renewed attention stems from a social media exchange between Paul Graham, co-founder of Y Combinator, and Ted Mabrey. 

Graham took to X (formerly Twitter) to publish sharp criticism of Palantir’s collaboration with ICE, calling it a move that supports the infrastructure of a "police state." Graham’s post alluded to ethical concerns over technology companies contributing to invasive surveillance operations.

Mabrey emphasized Palantir’s origins with the Department of Homeland Security following Operation Fallen Hero, a response to the murder of ICE agent Jaime Zapata by a Mexican drug cartel. Mabrey stated that Palantir’s software has life-saving implications, expressing that its contributions in law enforcement provide invaluable tools to protect lives.

The controversy recalls previous incidents where leading tech firms, such as Google with Project Maven, faced backlash for defense-related projects. Mabrey highlighted that Palantir hires individuals who are committed to creating impactful technology – but also urged prospective employees to be prepared to face criticisms like the one Graham shared.

Graham pushed Mabrey to commit, on behalf of Palantir, that the company would refrain from building software that violates the U.S. Constitution. Graham argued that such a commitment, while not legally binding, could instill moral responsibility within Palantir employees to refuse unethical tasks.

Mabrey later dismissed Graham’s request, likening it to an unreasonable courtroom tactic, but maintained that the company operates with ethical boundaries in mind. He pointed to Palantir's internal transparency and commitment to its employees to ensure the responsible application of its software.