An NDP member of parliament is urging the Canadian government to intervene and prevent Canadian businesses from engaging with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Heather McPherson shared a letter she wrote to Prime Minister Mark Carney, advocating for actions against Canadian companies collaborating with ICE.
In her letter, McPherson emphasized the importance of Canada refraining from supporting what she described as fascist violence that endangers communities and threatens the safety of both American and Canadian citizens. She proposed measures such as denying export permits to companies supplying equipment to ICE and withdrawing public subsidies or contracts from firms involved with the agency.
The recent actions of ICE, under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, have sparked controversy. Federal agents have been deployed to various cities, including Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago, Charlotte, and most recently, Minneapolis. Incidents in Minneapolis involving ICE have resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens and the detention of a five-year-old child alongside his father.
Protests against ICE have erupted in response to these events, with many demanding the agency’s departure from the city. McPherson expressed concern about the Trump administration’s actions, stating that its abuses have reached alarming levels.
Several Canadian companies have been linked to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE. McPherson highlighted examples in her letter, including Vancouver-based tech company Hootsuite, which provides social media services to DHS. Despite criticism, Hootsuite’s CEO clarified that their contract with ICE does not involve tracking or surveillance of individuals.
Billionaire Jim Pattison has also faced scrutiny for potentially selling a Virginia warehouse to DHS for ICE operations. Furthermore, ICE has allocated funds for a significant order of armored vehicles from Canadian defense manufacturer Roshel.
The Prime Minister’s Office has been contacted for a response to McPherson’s letter, as she campaigns for leadership within her party. The NDP has confirmed her candidacy along with four other contenders.
