ICE’s expansion leaves US companies with a choice they cannot dodge

As US immigration enforcement expands, companies face growing pressure from employees, customers and investors to speak out.

“The business community in Minnesota prides itself in providing leadership and solving problems to ensure a strong and vibrant state,” begins an open letter signed by 60 chief executives on January 25, the day after a federal agent fatally shot nurse Alex Pretti.

“In this difficult moment for our community, we call for peace and focused co-operation among local, state and federal leaders to achieve a swift and durable solution,” continues the statement.

The message did not hit the mark for some. Bill Weihl, founder of corporate climate advocacy group ClimateVoice, called it “mealy mouthed”.

Tanya Khotin, strategic sustainability adviser at Khotin Impact Strategies, says its use of the language of the administration — focused on “de-escalation” — makes it “worse than saying nothing at all”.

Experts make clear that businesses’ failure to speak clearly on immigration enforcement is not just a moral failure, but a tangible business risk that is growing by the day.