On Sunday, the French IT giant announced it will sell its U.S. subsidiary that works with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE. The decision follows days of mounting criticism and protests, both inside France and beyond.

According to Capgemini, “legal constraints” in the United States prevented the group from properly overseeing the subsidiary’s operations. In short, the company says its hands were tied. And when control isn’t possible, selling was the only option left.

“The process of selling this entity will be initiated immediately,” Capgemini said in a statement.

The controversy centers on Capgemini Government Solutions, a U.S.-based subsidiary that signed a contract with ICE. The deal, revealed by the NGO Observatoire des Multinationales, involved identifying foreign nationals on U.S. soil and tracking their movements. That revelation didn’t sit well with many. Not at all.

Let’s be honest. ICE has long been accused of using aggressive and sometimes violent methods. So once Capgemini’s link became public, backlash was almost inevitable.

Over the past few days, the company has found itself under intense scrutiny. Protests broke out. Lawmakers demanded answers. Even France’s finance minister, Roland Lescure, asked the company to clarify what exactly it was doing in the United States.

Inside the company, pressure also grew. The CGT Capgemini union launched an online petition calling for an immediate end to the partnership with the U.S. government. The language was blunt. The union accused Capgemini of being complicit in what it described as the tracking, arrest, kidnapping, and deportation of tens of thousands of people.

Then came another disturbing detail. Recent ICE operations in Minneapolis reportedly led to the deaths of two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good. That news only intensified the anger.

And the protests didn’t stop at France’s borders.

Demonstrations against ICE have also taken place in Italy. Part of the outrage there is tied to reports that U.S. federal agents could be present at the upcoming Winter Olympics. Officially, they’re expected to play an advisory role, not patrol the streets. Still, critics aren’t reassured. Not even close.

In its press release, Capgemini tried to explain its position more clearly. The company said U.S. rules around classified federal contracts made it impossible to exercise “appropriate control” over certain aspects of the subsidiary’s work. Here’s the thing. From Capgemini’s point of view, that lack of oversight crossed a line.

Financially, the subsidiary is small. Capgemini said it represents about 0.4% of its estimated global sales for 2025 and less than 2% of its U.S. revenue. In other words, this isn’t a make-or-break business unit.

But reputationally? That’s another story.

So now, Capgemini is moving on. The sale process is starting right away. Whether that will calm critics or spark more questions remains to be seen.