By Richard T. Herman, Esq.
Founder, Herman Legal Group, “The Law Firm for Immigrants”
Quick Answer Box
As of late October 2025, boycott campaigns target:
Avelo Airlines, Palantir Technologies, GEO Group, CoreCivic, Spotify, CSI Aviation, and GlobalX Airlines—all accused of profiting from or enabling Trump’s expanded immigration-enforcement agenda through ICE contracts, deportation flights, detention operations, or recruitment advertising.
📊 At a Glance: 2025 Boycott Landscape
| Company | Primary Role | Boycott Trigger | Financial Exposure (ICE/CBP) | Public Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avelo Airlines | Deportation charter carrier | ICE flight contract (via CSI Aviation) | Est. US $151 million contract (2025); impacts on travel and airline industries | Airport protests and consumer boycotts led by immigrant rights organizations and community groups; concerns raised about federal agents conducting deportation flights |
| Palantir Technologies | ICE data platforms (“ImmigrationOS”) | Expanded DHS/ICE data contracts; support for enforcement following immigration ban | US $30 million ICE contract + > US $1 billion quarterly revenue boost from federal deals; tech industry scrutiny | Divestment drives in CA & NJ; advocacy organizations and communities call for accountability |
| GEO Group | Private detention operator | Detention bed expansion | US $747 million ICE obligations (2024); US $2.42 billion annual revenue; significant exposure in private prison and detention industries | #DivestFromGEO campaigns; labor and immigrant rights organizations mobilize communities |
| CoreCivic | Detention & lobbying | ICE facility contracts; increased detention after immigration ban | US $120–133 million ICE revenue per quarter (2024-25); business leaders face pressure from stakeholders | Faith-labor boycotts; organizations and communities demand corporate responsibility |
| Spotify | Ad platform carrying ICE recruitment ads | ICE hiring ads (Oct 2025) | Minimal direct contract value – indirect revenue via ad sales; potential impact on media and advertising industries | #NoICEAds trending; labor organizations and community groups urge ad policy changes |
| CSI Aviation | Prime ICE charter contractor | ICE Air fleet expansion | US $78–162 million (6-mo period); US $262 million FY 2025 DHS contracts; aviation industry implications | Investor pressure; advocacy organizations highlight role in deportation infrastructure |
| GlobalX Airlines | ICE flight sub-contractor | Operates majority of removal flights | Multi-year subcontracts tied to ICE Air operations; exposure in airline and travel industries | Emerging boycott naming; community groups and organizations protest deportation flights |
| Walmart | Retailer, parking lot operator | ICE enforcement at store locations | Potential reputational risk; retail industry impact | Labor and immigrant rights organizations, workers, and community groups lead boycott calls and protests |
| Home Depot | Retailer, day laborer site | ICE raids targeting day laborers at parking lots; involvement of federal agents | Potential loss of business from immigrant communities; retail and construction industries affected | Labor and immigrant rights organizations, community groups, and advocacy organizations lead boycott calls; protests highlight impact of raids on day laborers and local communities; business leaders urged to address enforcement actions |
Why Now?
The Trump administration’s second-term enforcement expansion has created a surge in profitable government contracts for private detention, transport, and data-analytics firms.
Consumers, investors, and advocacy coalitions are responding with boycotts, divestment drives, and public-accountability campaigns. Organizations and communities respond to immigration enforcement and immigration raids by building coalitions, organizing protests, and supporting affected individuals. Activism surrounding immigration issues has also prompted significant consumer responses, including boycotts of major retailers.
Some retail companies have faced boycotts for their complicity in immigration raids or for failing to speak out against immigration enforcement activities. In particular, immigration raids conducted by federal agents at Home Depot parking lots have directly affected day laborers and immigrant workers, leading to community protests and raising concerns about the impact on vulnerable workers. Immigration status plays a critical role in determining legal rights and workplace security for these individuals.
These enforcement actions often create fear among individuals and families, who worry about government reprisals and the psychological impact of such operations. These enforcement actions can significantly affect industries such as construction, retail, and hospitality, which rely heavily on immigrant labor across America. Business leaders in these affected American industries are responding to public pressure by reevaluating their partnerships and public stances, as their decisions can affect both their companies’ reputations and their relationships with consumers and advocacy organizations.
In 2025, Walmart faced calls for boycotts by immigrant and labor rights groups, including Dolores Huerta. Activists in Los Angeles also called for a boycott against companies they believe are complicit in immigration raids, including Home Depot and Walmart.
Throughout history, boycotts have played a pivotal role in shaping social and political change in America, from the Montgomery Bus Boycott to modern campaigns. These movements are part of the ongoing struggle for democracy and social justice, as communities fight for labor rights and against exploitative practices. Recent boycotts and protests have drawn more attention to the issue of corporate complicity in immigration enforcement, elevating the visibility and impact of these campaigns.
Expert Tip:
Follow the money flow — detention and data vendors see hundreds of millions in new ICE obligations while public brands bear the backlash.
🚨 Mini-Profiles: Companies Facing Boycott Calls
1️⃣ Avelo Airlines
Role: Charter carrier for ICE deportation flights (via CSI Aviation). Federal agents and immigration authorities coordinate deportation flights in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security and related agencies.
Trigger: April 2025 launch of Mesa, AZ ICE deportation hub, involving the department and agency operations.
Public Reaction: Communities respond with petitions, weekly airport protests, and municipal resolutions, highlighting the impact on families deported to other countries. Some deportation flights operated by Avelo Airlines have sent individuals to countries such as El Salvador, raising concerns among advocacy groups.
💵 Financial Snapshot:
- Estimated ICE contract value ≈ US $151 million (2025) for deportation-flight operations (Port City Daily).
- No full financial breakdown disclosed in Avelo’s public filings.
Corporate Contact: 12 Greenway Plaza Suite 400, Houston TX 77046 | (346) 616-9500 | media-inquiries@aveloair.com | aveloair.com
Key Insight:
First U.S. consumer airline openly linked to deportation flights — hence the movement’s top target.
2️⃣ Palantir Technologies
Role: Developer of ICE data systems (“ImmigrationOS”).
Trigger: Expansion of federal data contracts in 2025.
Public Reaction: University walkouts and pension-fund divestment. Palantir had contracts, including a $30 million deal in 2025, used to expand mass surveillance for ICE. The company’s work with federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and other government departments has drawn significant attention. Former employees of Palantir condemned the company’s contracts with ICE as a violation of its ethical principles. Organizations and advocacy groups have criticized these partnerships, while business leaders and Palantir’s CEO have responded by defending the company’s role in supporting agency operations.
Employees and the public can search government databases, such as USAspending.gov, to find details about Palantir’s signed contracts with ICE and other federal agencies. Critics of private detention centers highlight inhumane detention conditions and the profits that come at the expense of detainee welfare. Tech companies like Palantir have been targeted for providing data mining and surveillance software to ICE. Palantir’s strategic plans and ongoing contracts with these agencies affect immigrant communities and advocacy organizations, raising concerns about the broader impact of surveillance and enforcement technologies.
💵 Financial Snapshot:
- ICE contract ≈ US $30 million for ImmigrationOS (Axios).
- Broader government contracts contribute to > US $1 billion quarterly revenue growth (The Guardian).
Corporate Contact: 1200 17th St Floor 15, Denver CO 80202 | investors@palantir.com | palantir.com
Fast Fact:
Palantir provides the digital backbone for ICE surveillance and case coordination.
3️⃣ GEO Group
Role: Nation’s largest private immigration-detention operator.
Trigger: Increased ICE contracts and bed capacity, including contracts with federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security. In 2024, a new 15-year ICE contract was signed, further expanding GEO Group’s involvement in immigration detention.
Public Reaction: #DivestFromGEO and investor resolutions. The expansion of ICE detention capacity under the Trump administration led to increased profits for private prison companies and affected vulnerable populations, including immigrant workers and their families. The GEO Group has numerous ICE contracts and executives, including its CEO and other business leaders, who have shaped the company’s strategy and responded to changing immigration policies. These actions have had a significant impact on various industries that rely on immigrant labor.
The company’s expansion plans often face strong opposition from advocacy organizations, labor unions, and local communities, who organize protests and fight against GEO’s practices. Organizations and workers respond to GEO’s operations by building coalitions and advocating for immigrant rights. The GEO Group’s subsidiary, BI Incorporated, tracks immigrants using technology like ankle monitors. Activists also target financial institutions like Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase that fund private prison companies, highlighting the ongoing fight by organizations and communities to hold these entities accountable.
💵 Financial Snapshot:
- ICE obligations ≈ US $747 million (2024) (Project on Government Oversight).
- New 15-year ICE contract valued ≈ US $1 billion, generating ~ US $60 million per year.
- 2024 company revenue: US $2.42 billion.
Corporate Contact: 4955 Technology Way, Boca Raton FL 33431 | (561) 893-0101 | geogroup.com
Important Note:
GEO’s stock rose 8 % in Q3 2025 after announcing new ICE contracts.
4️⃣ CoreCivic
Role: Private detention operator and lobbyist. CoreCivic holds contracts with federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, working closely with the agency to operate detention centers across the country.
Trigger: Contract renewals and detention expansions, often as part of a broader plan to increase capacity for immigration enforcement. These expansions can significantly affect industries that rely on immigrant workers, making certain communities and vulnerable populations more susceptible to disruption.
Public Reaction: Faith-based and labor boycotts nationwide, as organizations, advocacy groups, and communities respond to CoreCivic’s expansion plans with protests and campaigns. Workers and local organizations often join the fight against these practices, highlighting the negative impact on families and labor rights.
Business leaders and CEOs at CoreCivic play a central role in shaping the company’s strategy, and their decisions are closely watched by other industries and advocacy organizations. The actions of these CEOs and business leaders can affect public perception and policy, especially as advocacy organizations continue their ongoing fight to hold CoreCivic accountable for its treatment of vulnerable populations under Trump’s immigration policies. Political donations by companies with federal contracts raise concerns about unethical influence on policy.
💵 Financial Snapshot:
- Q4 2024 ICE revenue ≈ US $120.3 million; Q1 2025 ≈ US $133.2 million (CoreCivic Investor Reports).
- Analysts project hundreds of millions in new ICE contracts under 2025 policies (Citizens for Ethics Review).
Corporate Contact: 5501 Virginia Way Suite 110, Brentwood TN 37027 | (615) 263-3000 | corecivic.com
Need to Know:
CoreCivic and GEO collectively hold over 70 % of ICE detention capacity.
5️⃣ Spotify
Role: Platform hosting ICE recruitment ads.
Trigger: October 2025 “Join ICE” audio ad campaign.
Public Reaction: #NoICEAds trend and artist boycotts. Activist groups like Mijente have called on tech companies to cancel their contracts with ICE. Organizations and communities quickly responded to the ICE ads by organizing protests, issuing public statements, and mobilizing collective action to pressure Spotify and similar platforms. Women, particularly those in immigrant communities, have played a leading role in organizing protests and advocating for change in response to Spotify’s ICE ads, highlighting the intersection of immigrant rights and women’s rights within these movements.
Business leaders and Spotify’s CEO addressed the backlash, with CEOs from related companies also weighing in on the controversy. The situation affected workers in the music and tech industries, as well as those whose livelihoods depend on Spotify’s platform. Advocacy organizations continue to fight against companies supporting ICE, emphasizing the need for solidarity among communities and industries impacted by immigration enforcement. Protests against companies involved with ICE have increased in response to their complicity in immigration enforcement. Many companies face backlash from consumers for their ties to government agencies like ICE. Activists encourage consumers to support local immigrant businesses as an alternative to boycotting major corporations.
💵 Financial Snapshot:
- Direct ICE revenue unknown; ads were part of federal recruitment placements.
- Analysts estimate ad value < US $1 million, but reputational loss far higher.
Corporate Contact: Regeringsgatan 19, SE-111 53 Stockholm | office@spotify.com | spotify.com
Quick Take:
Ad carriage became a new frontier in the boycott economy.
6️⃣ CSI Aviation
Role: Prime ICE Air contractor.
Trigger: Expansion of ICE deportation flights through 2025, with contracts awarded by agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and other federal departments.
Public Reaction: Investor letters and airport campaigns. Mass deportation efforts intensified under the Trump administration, leading to widespread workplace raids and detainment of non-criminal immigrants. Many deportation flights coordinated by CSI Aviation have sent individuals to Mexico, impacting families and communities on both sides of the border. Organizations and communities have responded by organizing protests and advocacy campaigns to fight against these practices, highlighting the devastating impact on families separated and sent to other countries.
Advocacy organizations continue the fight to hold CSI Aviation accountable for its role in deportation flights. Business leaders and CEOs at CSI Aviation shape the company’s strategy, and their decisions affect workers, industries such as aviation and transportation, and immigrant communities.
💵 Financial Snapshot:
- Six-month ICE charter deal worth US $78–162 million (CBS News).
- DHS contracts totaled US $262.9 million in FY 2025 (Al Jazeera).
Corporate Contact: 3700 Rio Grande Blvd NW Suite 1, Albuquerque NM 87107 | (505) 761-9000 | inquiries@csiaviation.com | csiaviation.com
At-a-Glance:
CSI coordinates daily ICE deportation flights nationwide — a lucrative but controversial niche.
7️⃣ GlobalX Airlines
Role: Subcontractor operating most ICE removal flights, with contracts involving agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division. These agency partnerships enable GlobalX Airlines to conduct deportation flights on behalf of the department.
Trigger: 2025 flight-manifest leaks and media exposés revealed the extent of GlobalX Airlines’ involvement in deportation flights, sparking widespread concern among advocacy organizations, immigrant communities, and labor groups. Organizations and communities have responded by organizing protests and campaigns to support families affected by removal flights, especially those sent to other countries, highlighting the emotional and economic impact on separated families.
Public Reaction: Emerging investor and airport boycott actions have been coordinated by advocacy organizations and solidarity groups, intensifying the fight against GlobalX Airlines’ practices. Some advocacy organizations have also linked the boycott of GlobalX Airlines to broader social justice movements, including solidarity with Palestine, drawing parallels with other campaigns such as the BDS movement.
Business leaders and CEOs within the company have been scrutinized for their strategic decisions, as their actions directly affect workers, disrupt industries reliant on immigrant labor, and influence public perception. The ongoing response from organizations, communities, and industry stakeholders underscores the broader debate over corporate responsibility and the role of private companies in government deportation operations.
💵 Financial Snapshot:
- Multi-year charter subcontracts linked to ICE Air; estimated revenue in tens of millions annually.
- No public SEC filings detailing ICE-specific income available.
Corporate Contact: Building 5A, Miami Intl Airport 4th Fl, 4200 NW 36th St Miami FL 33166 | (786) 751-8550 | globalxair.com
Essential Info:
GlobalX handled over 60 % of ICE deportation flights in 2025 (Guardian analysis).
🌎 Regional Hot Spots
- New Haven & Newark: Palantir and Avelo divestment rallies.
- Houston: Protests at Avelo HQ.
- Nashville: CoreCivic facility boycotts.
- Los Angeles & Phoenix: ICE Air activism.
- Texas: A focal point for immigration enforcement actions and related protests, particularly around detention facilities and state-level policy debates.
In cities like Chicago and across Southern California, local communities and organizations have actively responded to immigration enforcement actions, especially raids conducted by federal agents at locations such as Home Depot parking lots. These raids often target day laborers and immigrant workers, deeply impacting the community. In response, coalitions of advocacy groups, labor unions, and faith-based organizations have mobilized to support affected individuals, protest enforcement actions, and build solidarity among immigrant communities.
💰 Investor & Consumer Implications
- Profits vs Public Pressure: While ICE contracts bring hundreds of millions to contractors, brand reputation losses mount. Several Fortune 500 companies have faced scrutiny for their ICE contracts. Business leaders in affected industries are developing plans to respond to increasing public scrutiny and government spending on immigration enforcement. These plans directly affect company strategies and their relationships with government agencies like ICE and departments such as the Department of Homeland Security.
- ESG Risk: Major funds (BlackRock, Vanguard) face activist calls to exit GEO/CoreCivic holdings, prompting business leaders to consider how their responses align with ESG principles and public expectations.
- Policy Risk: State officials are reviewing vendor eligibility for companies benefiting from detention profits, which may affect how industries plan future contracts and partnerships with federal agencies and departments. The Biden administration has reviewed or reconsidered federal contracts with companies involved in immigration enforcement.
🧾 Key Takeaways
- Over US $1.5 billion in ICE/DHS contract value flows to these companies annually.
- Boycotts reflect the intersection of ethics and economics in immigration policy. Several companies faced backlash for their perceived support of Trump’s immigration ban.
- Firms with direct ICE contracts (GEO, CoreCivic, CSI) see steady profits amid political turmoil, especially following President Trump’s use of executive orders to expand immigration enforcement.
- Public-facing brands (Avelo, Spotify) suffer the heaviest reputational hits.
- Boycotts and enforcement actions affect multiple industries, communities, and organizations by disrupting business operations, labor supply, and social cohesion; these groups respond through advocacy, coalition-building, and collective action to address ongoing challenges.
🔗 Resource List
Government & Public Data
Investigations & News
- CBS News – ICE Flight Contracts (2025)
- Project on Government Oversight – GEO Contracts
- Axios – Palantir ICE ImmigrationOS Deal
- The Guardian – Corporate Profit from Immigration Enforcement
- Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University – ICE Detainee and Enforcement Data
Herman Legal Group** Guides**
- Removal Proceedings Explained
- Trump’s 2025 Deportation Surge – What Non-Criminal Immigrants Need to Know
- Book a Consultation with Herman Legal Group
About the Author
Richard T. Herman, Esq. is a nationally recognized immigration attorney and co-author of Immigrant, Inc. With over 30 years of experience representing immigrants nationwide, his firm speaks 10 languages and serves clients in all 50 states.
📞 Call (216) 696-6170 or book online. In February 2025, a “Day Without Immigrants” nationwide protest highlighted the economic contributions of immigrants.
