French multinational Capgemini declared on Sunday its intention to sell Capgemini Government Solutions, the subsidiary engaged in offering technology services to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This move comes at a time when the enforcement agency's actions, particularly under the Trump administration's immigration policies, have drawn extensive global attention and criticism.
The French government played a significant role in prompting this decision, demanding that Capgemini clarify its relationship with ICE. This scrutiny intensified as federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis recently culminated in the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, raising alarms not only domestically but also abroad, including in France.
In its formal statement, Capgemini explained that it would immediately commence the process to dispose of the subsidiary. The company noted that regulatory requirements regarding contracts with U.S. federal agencies constrained the group's ability to effectively govern certain operational aspects of this subsidiary, which conflicted with Capgemini’s broader corporate objectives.
Although no detailed rationale was provided for the divestiture, the company highlighted that the subsidiary in question accounts for a minor fraction—specifically 0.4%—of its projected revenues for 2025.
Capgemini’s Chief Executive Officer, Aiman Ezzat, revealed that he was only recently made aware of the subsidiary’s engagements with ICE. On LinkedIn, he commented on the disparity between the subsidiary’s work scope and the company’s usual technological and consulting services, acknowledging that the activities raised questions within the firm.
This announcement followed remarks by French Finance Minister Roland Lescure, who addressed the nation’s parliament in the prior week, urging Capgemini to provide transparent disclosures about its contracts and to reconsider the nature of its activities with the agency.
While Lescure’s office has not offered statements regarding the company’s planned divestiture, external watchdog entity Multinationals Observatory has reported that Capgemini Government Solutions aided ICE by providing technological tools used to pinpoint individuals targeted by immigration enforcement.
Capgemini, recognized as a global leader in consulting and technology, employs over 340,000 personnel across more than 50 countries worldwide. Given its breadth of operations, the subsidiary's contribution to overall revenue is relatively minimal yet symbolically significant given the public and governmental scrutiny involved.