Canadians create petition demanding federal government cut ties with ICE
Canadians are calling on the Government of Canada to cut ties with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as the agency escalates its crackdown in the U.S.
An e-petition to the House of Commons was initiated by B.C. resident Amadea Morrow on Feb.6, 2026. It is backed by NDP MP Heather McPherson.
The petition claims ICE, an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has been “widely documented as engaging in serious human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention, family separation, detention of children, medical neglect, and deaths in custody.”
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The first month of 2026 did see a spike in deaths involving ICE, with reports of six immigrants who died in the agency’s custody. Two U.S. citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, were also shot and killed by ICE agents during protests in Minneapolis in January.
The petition notes that citizens of Canada have been detained by ICE. In fact, Canadian Johnny Noviello, who died in ice custody last year, could’ve been saved according to expert analysis of his autopsy.
The petition also accuses the Government of Canada of providing public funding, contracts, subsidies, or export permits to companies that contract with ICE or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Some companies in Canada that have contracts with ICE include Thomson Reuters Special Services LLC and Hootsuite.
“Canada has obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty and the Export and Import Permits Act to prevent exports where there is a substantial risk of serious human rights violations,” states the petition.
U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada (Iryna Tolmachova/Shutterstock)
Ultimately, the petition is calling on Canada to do the following:
1. Cancel federal subsidies, grants, and public funding to Canadian companies that contract with ICE or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
2. Cancel federal government contracts with companies that provide goods or services to ICE or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
3. Deny or revoke export permits for armoured vehicles, surveillance technology, and other controlled goods destined for ICE
4. Revoke permission for ICE to operate offices on Canadian soil
5. Terminate the Safe Third Country Agreement pursuant to Article 10
6. Take the necessary steps to ensure that Canada does not support, enable, or legitimize human rights abuses committed by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
As of Thursday, Feb. 12, the petition has 7,142 signatures. Canadians have until June 6, 2026, to sign it if they wish to do so.
Earlier this month, an ICE spokesperson confirmed with Daily Hive that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which is the criminal investigative law enforcement component of ICE, has personnel assigned to the embassy and consulates in the five Canadian cities.
Check out everything we know about the ICE field offices in Canada.
Daily Hive has reached out to Global Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office for a response to this petition.