French lawmakers are demanding immediate explanations after reports confirmed that a subsidiary of Paris-listed digital services firm Capgemini agreed to assist US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in locating and removing migrants. The revelation stems from a contract secured by Capgemini Group Solutions (CGS) with ICE’s Detention Compliance and Removals office in December, according to the corporate watchdog Observatoire des Multinationales.
The contract, valued at $4.8 million, reportedly includes performance bonuses up to $365 million contingent upon successfully identifying and localizing foreign nationals targeted for enforcement operations. This use of 'skip tracing' techniques, intended to enhance removal efficiency, has triggered significant political concern in France regarding corporate ethics and international obligations.
France’s Minister of the Armed Forces, Catherine Vautrin, stated that the contracts held by French groups require rigorous review, asserting that the respect for human rights remains a critical issue. Economy Minister Roland Lescure further informed the National Assembly that he urged Capgemini to provide comprehensive transparency regarding the nature of these activities.
Capgemini acknowledged the existence of the contract but claimed it has not yet been executed due to an ongoing appeal process. An internal communication cited by the company indicated that the Paris headquarters was only recently made aware of the specific scope of the US subsidiary’s operations, citing US regulatory constraints on information sharing.
However, documented evidence, including a now-removed company webpage, suggested Capgemini was actively working to reduce expulsion delays and costs for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). The CGT union representing Capgemini employees has called for an immediate cessation of all collaboration, deeming the partnerships an active complicity in serious human rights violations.
This scrutiny intensifies existing pressure on ICE, which recently faced public backlash following lethal force incidents involving its agents in Minnesota. Capgemini, a firm employing 350,000 globally, currently holds 13 documented contracts with ICE, covering services ranging from hotline management for crime victims to deportation support.
Economy Minister Lescure conveyed to the company that their initial explanations were deemed unsatisfactory, reiterating the government’s insistence on a far more transparent accounting of the subsidiary’s operational policies. The situation places a major French technology exporter under the microscope regarding its adherence to international ethical standards while servicing sensitive US government contracts.
