'Completely not okay': Google chief scientist Jeff Dean on ICE arrest of teens in Minnesota
Google scientist Jeff Dean has strongly condemned recent arrests by ICE and Border Patrol. He called the actions horrific and unconstitutional. This statement drew a response from X owner Elon Musk, who questioned the evidence presented. The controversy involves viral videos of detentions and a fatal shooting incident in Minnesota.
Federal agents stand outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building as protesters gather in Minneapolis, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
Google's Jeff Dean seems quite upset with arrests related to ICE and ICE and Border Patrol. Jeff Dean is Chief Scientist, Google DeepMind and Google Research, and Gemini. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Dean slammed the arrests calling them "horrific".
His post received replies from a large number of users on X, including Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk. Responding to Dean, Elon Musk asked if he has really seen what the viral posts on the arrests are claiming. Quoting a post from a X user with moniker 'Jesus Freakin Congress', Jeff Dean wrote, "This is completely not okay, and we can't become numb to repeated instances of illegal and unconstitutional action by government agencies.
The recent days have been horrific." Jesus Freakin Congress' X post had a viral video of Border Patrol agents detaining two teenagers -- Jonathan Aguilar Garcia and Christian Miranda Romano -- at a Richfield, Minnesota Target store, calling it an unconstitutional violation amid rising federal enforcement actions.
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Replying to Jeff Dean, Elon Musk wrote: "There is no evidence that he showed his passport. Do you have anything besides hearsay on the Internet?."
Tesla CEO has shared a number of posts on the Minnesota issue. As for Google's Jeff Dean, this is his post on the issue. Dean has retweeted another posts on 'the Police Use-of-Force Rule on Moving Vehicles', which appears to be aimed at the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minnesota, in which the Trump administration has claimed that ICE agent acted in self defence. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that the Portland incident happened during a traffic stop of a Venezuelan gang member, who "attempted to run over" agents with his car.
What was the X post that Jeff Dean quoted
Jesus Freakin Congress' wrote: 🚨BREAKING: Border Patrol just illegally arrested a U.S. citizen… a TEENAGER… in Richfield, Minnesota. The teen was working at Target when agents tackled him and arrested him, while his passport was in his pocket, fully identifying himself as a U.S. citizen. None of it mattered. Why? Because he looked Latino.When a coworker asked who to call, he said, heartbreakingly: “my mom.”Think about that. Your teenage son goes to work, and Border Patrol kidnaps him.This isn’t an isolated incident. ICE and Border Patrol have repeatedly illegally arrested U.S. citizens, especially in Minnesota. And after agents murdered a U.S. citizen who tried to drive away from illegal detention, this should outrage every single American.U.S. citizens do not have to prove their citizenship. Yet, ICE and Border Patrol agents are routinely violating the Constitution, demanding proof anyway… and even refusing to accept drivers licenses or real IDs.And now? Even a passport doesn’t matter.This isn’t enforcement… it’s targeting Americans based on fear and appearance, treating citizens like criminals in their own country. When will this end? When will the government stop stripping citizens of their rights and labeling them terrorists for simply existing?