New Jersey Lawmakers Demand Pension Fund Divestment from ICE’s Tech Enabler Palantir

New Jersey’s elected officials are sounding the alarm over the state pension funds’ massive investment in Palantir Technologies, a key contractor for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to a new report from independent research group Little Sis, the State Investment Council holds $138 million in Palantir stock—money drawn from the retirement savings of teachers, firefighters, and public workers.

Palantir has become infamous for its role as the “tech backbone” of ICE’s surveillance apparatus. The company’s software integrates data from the IRS, Medicaid, and other government sources to provide ICE with “near real-time information” on immigrant targets. This technology underpins aggressive raids, detentions, and deportations that have terrorized immigrant communities nationwide.

Legislators including Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz and State Senator Joe Cryan are demanding immediate divestment. Ruiz emphasized that public employees deserve retirement investments that align with New Jersey’s values, not those that bankroll intrusive ICE operations. Cryan highlighted the privacy risks posed by Palantir’s data hoarding and called for the state to end its financial support.

Assembly members Gary Schaer, Annette Quijano, and Chigozie Onyema echoed these concerns, stressing that public pension funds must reflect ethical standards and protect privacy rights. Quijano has even introduced legislation (A2003) to bar state investments in companies involved in government contracts that violate data privacy, particularly targeting immigrant communities.

Senator Andrew Zwicker framed the issue as a matter of principle: continuing to invest in Palantir means indirectly endorsing ICE’s violent and unlawful tactics. He urged the State Investment Council to uphold New Jersey’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments by divesting immediately.

This push for divestment exposes a stark contradiction: New Jersey’s pension funds are financially tied to a company whose technology facilitates human rights abuses and widespread fear. The elected officials’ united front demands accountability and a realignment of public investments with the values of justice, privacy, and community safety.

For a state that prides itself on progressive values, continuing to bankroll Palantir is not just an ethical failure, it’s a betrayal of the very people whose futures these pension funds are meant to secure. The question now is whether New Jersey will act swiftly to cut ties with a company that profits from immigrant repression.