Palantir appeared as a “top supporter” on signage at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 55th annual legislative conference in Washington last week. CBCF described the firm as a supporter, not a sponsor.
Palantir said its support was intended to bolster internships and fellowships and build the foundation’s capacity in technology and innovation. CBCF President and CEO Nicole Austin-Hillery said the group evaluates partnerships independently and in line with its mission, but did not clarify the arrangement’s terms or whether ICE contracts were considered.
The conference support was reported less than a week after the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute returned a Palantir donation over the company’s contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The ACLU says ICE has about $145 million in Palantir contracts. In April, 10 Congressional Black Caucus members questioned the Department of Homeland Security about Palantir technology’s deployment, arguing it helped create a “mass surveillance ecosystem.”
