Activists are calling for the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) to end its contract with Palantir, a data analysis company that has been working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The HHC, which oversees the city’s public hospitals, has been paying millions of dollars to Palantir for its services, despite the company’s involvement in controversial immigration policies.
The issue came to light when The Intercept revealed that Palantir has been receiving millions of dollars from the HHC for its data analysis services. This has sparked outrage among activists who are urging the HHC to cut ties with the company.
Palantir, a Silicon Valley-based company, has been providing data analysis services to ICE since 2014. The company’s software, known as “Investigative Case Management” (ICM), is used by ICE to track and target immigrants for detention and deportation. This has raised concerns among activists and human rights organizations, who have criticized the company for its role in the separation of families and the violation of immigrants’ rights.
The HHC’s contract with Palantir has been in place since 2015 and is worth $34 million. The contract was initially signed to help the HHC improve its data analysis capabilities and streamline its operations. However, with the recent revelations about Palantir’s involvement with ICE, activists are calling for the HHC to end its contract with the company.
In a statement, the HHC defended its contract with Palantir, stating that the company’s services have been beneficial in improving the efficiency of its operations. However, activists argue that the HHC’s contract with Palantir goes against the values of the public hospital system, which is meant to provide care and support to all individuals, regardless of their immigration status.
The HHC’s contract with Palantir is not only a moral issue but also a financial one. The HHC is a public institution funded by taxpayers’ money, and it is unacceptable for this money to be used to support a company that is complicit in human rights violations. The HHC should be using its resources to provide quality healthcare to all individuals, including undocumented immigrants who often rely on public hospitals for their medical needs.
Furthermore, the HHC’s contract with Palantir goes against the city’s values of inclusivity and diversity. New York City has always been a welcoming and diverse city, and it is disheartening to see a public institution supporting a company that goes against these values.
The HHC has a responsibility to its patients and the community it serves. By continuing its contract with Palantir, the HHC is indirectly supporting the inhumane and unjust treatment of immigrants. This is not in line with the HHC’s mission to provide quality healthcare to all individuals, regardless of their background.
It is time for the HHC to take a stand and cut ties with Palantir. The city’s public hospitals should not be associated with a company that profits from the suffering of immigrants. The HHC should instead invest in ethical and responsible companies that align with its values and mission.
In addition to the HHC, other institutions and organizations have also cut ties with Palantir. The United Nations, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the University of California have all ended their contracts with the company due to its involvement with ICE. It is time for the HHC to follow suit and send a strong message that it stands against the inhumane treatment of immigrants.
In conclusion, the HHC’s contract with Palantir is not only a financial issue but also a moral one. The HHC has a responsibility to its patients and the community it serves, and by continuing its contract with Palantir, it is failing to uphold this responsibility. It is time for the HHC to take a stand and end its ties with Palantir, and instead, invest in ethical and responsible companies that align with its values. Let us work towards a more inclusive and just society, where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect.
