'What's happening with ICE is...', Sam Altman addresses the issue in an internal memo to staff

Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO

• Sam Altman criticises US immigration enforcement, calling ICE actions overreach
• Altman urges distinction between deporting criminals and broader ICE enforcement
• OpenAI CEO says company will avoid performative political statements

Did our AI summary help?

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has criticised recent actions by US immigration authorities, telling employees that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has “gone too far.”  In an unusually candid internal message to OpenAI employees, chief executive Sam Altman has criticised the direction of US immigration enforcement, saying recent actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement represent overreach. The message, shared on the company’s internal Slack and obtained by New York Times, marks one of Altman’s clearest statements yet on a live political issue.

“I love the US and its values of democracy and freedom and will be supportive of the country however I can,” Altman wrote. “But part of loving the country is the American duty to push back against overreach. What’s happening with ICE is going too far.”

Altman drew a sharp distinction between deporting violent criminals and the broader enforcement actions currently taking place, arguing that failing to separate the two risks undermining public trust. “There is a big difference between deporting violent criminals and what’s happening now, and we need to get the distinction right,” he said.

While critical of ICE, Altman stopped short of directly attacking the White House. He described President Donald Trump as “a very strong leader” and said he hoped the president would “rise to this moment and unite the country.” Altman added that he was encouraged by recent responses from the administration and expressed hope that transparent investigations would help rebuild trust.

The OpenAI CEO also addressed how the company approaches political moments, emphasising consistency over performative messaging. He told staff that OpenAI had avoided chasing ideological trends, whether progressive or conservative, and would not suddenly change course now. “We are not going to make a lot of performative statements now about safety or politics or anything else,” Altman wrote. Instead, he said the company would continue engaging with leaders, advocating for its values, and speaking up when necessary.

The message was met with strong internal support, drawing hundreds of positive reactions from employees, including heart emojis and messages of thanks. In follow-up replies, Altman said he had recently spoken with officials from the Trump administration, noting that he had also engaged with the administration in the past to discourage large-scale immigration enforcement actions in San Francisco.

Altman’s comments highlight the increasingly visible role tech leaders are playing in debates over public policy, even as many companies remain cautious about taking public political positions. While OpenAI has largely avoided overt political advocacy, the message suggests that immigration enforcement is an issue where Altman believes silence is no longer appropriate.