French technology giant Capgemini has announced it will sell its US subsidiary after its work locating people for the Immigration and Customs 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 have sparked protests across the US and led to increased scrutiny of the agency.
Capgemini Government Solutions has been under contract since 18 December to provide 'skip tracing services for enforcement and removal operations', public records show.
Skip tracing services locate individuals whose whereabouts are unknown.
Capgemini Government Solutions is set to be paid more than $4.8 million (£3.5 million) for its work tracing people for ICE, which is due to continue until 15 March, US government listings show. It is one of 13 contracts the subsidiary holds with ICE.
Capgemini, one of the largest listed companies in France, stated 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 divestiture process 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 surging several cities across the US, acting on the Trump administration's drive to increase deportations of illegal immigrants.
ICE has detained thousands since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House with a pledge to increase deportations. ICE enforcement actions have regularly occurred in public places, leading to a number of clashes with protesters.
Last week, Capgemini's CEO Aiman Ezzat expressed concern about the nature of the contract awarded to Capgemini Government Solutions by DHS' Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The outrage surrounding the contract has provoked reactions from French politicians. French Finance Minister Roland Lescure has demanded transparency from the company regarding its contracts with ICE, while opposition MP Hadrien Clouet has called for sanctions on French firms collaborating with the agency.
Founded in 1967, Capgemini operates as an IT services and consulting firm and employs over 340,000 people worldwide, with a current valuation of €22 billion (£19 billion).
