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Congressman Pat Ryan has pledged to reject future campaign contributions from executives at companies that contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following criticism over donations he received from employees of Palantir Technologies.
The Democratic representative for New York's 18th Congressional District announced Wednesday (February 11) that he will also donate past contributions to Hudson Valley nonprofits serving immigrants.
"I've never taken any corporate money, and will continue to do that, of course, but wanted to go even a step further and take an even stronger stand," Ryan said in an interview with the Times Union. "That's really what this was about."
The announcement came after progressive advocacy group For the Many criticized Ryan for accepting donations from employees of Palantir, a data analytics firm that contracts with ICE. The group claimed Ryan received more money from Palantir employees than any other Democrat in Congress.
Federal Election Commission records show Ryan's campaign received approximately $93,300 from individual Palantir employees between 2022 and 2025, including contributions from CEO Alex Karp. As of December 31, Ryan had about $2.5 million on hand for his 2026 re-election campaign.
Ryan, a West Point graduate and Iraq War veteran who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, said his decision wasn't made in response to pressure but had been under consideration for months. He cited recent incidents involving ICE agents that he called "unlawful, unconstitutional and un-American."
"To me, it started this thinking like, well, 'What more can we and I be doing to push back and send this message?'" Ryan explained.
Palantir Technologies, co-founded by billionaire and President Trump ally Peter Thiel, recently secured a $30 million federal contract to develop a surveillance platform for tracking and deporting suspected noncitizens. The Denver-based company has partnered with the Department of Homeland Security since 2011.
While Ryan hasn't specified which nonprofits will receive the donated funds, he indicated his focus will be on local immigrant legal defense organizations struggling with service demands. Local immigrant advocacy groups have praised Ryan's decision.
"We commend Congressman Pat Ryan for his decision, going forward, to decline any funding from companies or their executives who collaborate with ICE," said the Rev. Richard Witt, executive director of Rural & Migrant Ministry.
Ryan has positioned his decision as part of his broader opposition to President Trump's immigration enforcement policies. He noted his record includes sponsoring articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and voting against additional DHS funding without reforms.
The congressman has also actively opposed a proposed ICE facility in Chester, New York, organizing protests and launching a petition that has gathered over 25,000 signatures.
Rather than abolishing ICE entirely, Ryan advocates for comprehensive reform of the agency. "The choice can't be between no border security and Trump's ICE murdering people in the street. I say rip ICE down and start over," Ryan said.