Two protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took place in Vancouver on Friday, with one evolving into a celebratory gathering. The demonstrations targeted two British Columbia-based companies linked to contracts with U.S. authorities, highlighting concerns over corporate involvement in immigration enforcement.
Jim Pattison Developments Abandons Warehouse Sale
Organizers canceled one planned action after Jim Pattison Developments announced it would not proceed with selling a warehouse in Ashland, Virginia, to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This decision transformed the event into a moment of triumph for activists opposing ties between Canadian firms and U.S. immigration policies.
“In moments like these, it shines a bright light on corporate ties between Canada and the Trump administration,” stated Emily Lowen, leader of the BC Green Party. “And I think there is a collective sense that the actions we’re seeing now are morally reprehensible.”
Protest Continues at Hootsuite Headquarters
A separate demonstration persisted outside the Vancouver offices of Hootsuite, a social media management company holding a contract with the Department of Homeland Security for public affairs services. The group Democracy Rising led the rally, urging Hootsuite to terminate all ICE-related agreements immediately, avoid future involvement in detention, deportation, or family separation efforts, and publicly reveal all partnerships with government and law enforcement entities.
“The road to fascism is paved with business as usual,” said Kalifi Ferretti-Gallon of Democracy Rising. “We can’t expect to function in a good society without members of that society, including companies making decisions based on a moral and ethical line, not simply the bottom line.”
Hootsuite Responds to Public Concerns
In addressing the backlash, Hootsuite’s CEO Irina Novoselsky emphasized the company’s long-standing work with government entities. “Beyond how painful it has been to process the current situation on a personal level, we have also felt the concern expressed about Hootsuite’s work with ICE’s public affairs office,” she noted in a statement.
Novoselsky clarified the scope of their services: “We’ve worked with government organizations across countries and administrations for more than 15 years, including the U.S. government. Our use-case with ICE does not include tracking or surveillance of individuals using our tools. Any claim otherwise is false and prohibited under our terms of service, which we actively enforce.”
She further explained the value of their technology: “Our technology makes public conversation visible at scale. It helps organizations understand what people are saying using unbiased, authentic social data – this helps them understand how people are feeling, and where trust is being earned or lost. Today more than ever, organizations need to hear more from the public, not less. Our responsibility is to ensure those voices remain visible. We work with a wide range of organizations because listening to real conversations leads to insights that drive better decisions and accountability, without endorsing specific actions or policies.”
The CEO acknowledged the sensitivity of the topic: “We understand this is a complex issue and that people will hold strong opinions. Our responsibility is to our customers, to the clear standards that govern how our technology is used, and to ensuring public conversation can be understood responsibly and at scale.”
