Reid Hoffman isn't mincing words. The LinkedIn co-founder and Microsoft (MSFT) board member just published a sharp opinion piece calling out his fellow Silicon Valley leaders for staying quiet while the Trump administration's immigration policies turn deadly.
Writing in The San Francisco Standard, Hoffman pointed to recent events in Minneapolis where federal immigration agents killed two U.S. citizens during enforcement operations. His message to the tech industry: your silence isn't neutrality, it's complicity.
The Death Toll Keeps Rising
Hoffman laid out some grim statistics. At least six people have died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody so far in 2026. That follows roughly 30 deaths in 2025. These aren't isolated incidents, he argues—they're the predictable result of the administration's approach to immigration enforcement during Trump's second term.
The entrepreneur and investor made it clear he doesn't think the American public is on board with what he calls "performative brutality." But public opinion doesn't matter much if the people with platforms and influence choose to stay silent.
Hoffman's argument is straightforward: America's democratic institutions will only survive the current "authoritarian push" if enough people in leadership positions actually oppose it out loud. Hoping things get better without doing anything isn't a strategy.
No More Bending the Knee
Hoffman shared his piece on X with an equally direct message: "We in Silicon Valley can't bend the knee to Trump. We can't shrink away and hope the crisis fades."
It's a pointed rebuke of the tech industry's recent approach to the administration, which has often favored quiet diplomacy over public criticism.
Some Tech Leaders Are Already Speaking Up
A few prominent voices in tech have started breaking ranks. Yann LeCun, the former chief AI scientist at Meta (META), posted "M U R D E R E R S" on X while sharing graphic video footage of the shooting by federal agents.
Jeff Dean, Google's longtime artificial intelligence leader, reposted video of the shooting and called it "absolutely shameful."
The outrage isn't limited to Silicon Valley either. NBA figures including Victor Wembanyama, Larry Nance Jr., and Steve Kerr have also condemned the killings publicly.
Hoffman wrapped up his call to action by emphasizing that everyone needs to do more right now. Hope without action, he stressed, simply isn't enough.
The timing of Hoffman's piece is notable—it comes as Washington faces political uncertainty with a potential government shutdown on the horizon despite a Senate deal aimed at avoiding one.
