Boston Dynamics employees protest robot sale to ICE

Hundreds of Boston Dynamics employees have signed a petition protesting the company’s involvement in a deal to supply robotic technology to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The robots, which are modified versions of the four-legged Spot robot, are being provided through Radeco, an official Boston Dynamics partner.

The modified units, rebranded as Cerberus, are equipped with thermal imaging, 360-degree cameras, sensors for radiation and explosives, and robotic arms. ICE reportedly intends to use the technology to support crackdowns on illegal immigration and smuggling, including using the robots to detect movement inside buildings and conduct searches in inaccessible areas.

In their petition, employees expressed that the deal makes them feel they are working for an agency that “brutalizes civilians.” The workers specifically cited a September 2025 ICE raid on a Hyundai facility in Georgia—a company that owns Boston Dynamics—which resulted in the detention of hundreds of workers. While employees warned the deal could lead to talent loss and damage the company’s reputation, Boston Dynamics has indicated it has no plans to abandon the sale.