Jeff Dean, the Chief Scientist for Google DeepMind and Google Research, has publicly criticized United States federal agencies for their use of force against citizens during ongoing anti-ICE protests. The controversy erupted after Dean shared a viral video on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, showing US Border Patrol agents detaining two teenagers.
Google Scientist Condemns 'Illegal' Government Actions
In his post, Dean expressed deep concern over the incident, which allegedly involved agents arresting two teens in Richfield, Minnesota, even though at least one presented a US passport. He described the recent events as "horrific" and warned against becoming desensitized to such actions. "This is completely not okay, and we can't become numb to repeated instances of illegal and unconstitutional action by government agencies," Dean wrote. The video, which Livemint could not independently verify, reportedly showed the detention of US citizen teenagers Jonathan Aguilar Garcia and Christian Miranda Romano at a Target store.
Elon Musk and Grok AI Challenge the Narrative
The post drew a sharp and conflicting response from billionaire Elon Musk, the owner of X. Musk questioned the evidence in the video, asking Dean, "There is no evidence that he showed his passport. Do you have anything besides hearsay on the Internet?" He attached a response from his AI chatbot, Grok AI, which initially stated there was no proof. However, in subsequent updates, Grok acknowledged that videos had emerged showing at least one teen presenting a passport to the agents before being detained. This incident highlights the intense public debate surrounding immigration enforcement in the US.
Nationwide Protests Escalate After Fatal ICE Shooting
The online debate mirrors the intense real-world protests sweeping across the United States. The unrest was triggered by the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE officer on January 7. Despite freezing temperatures, tens of thousands marched in Minneapolis on January 9 to protest the killing. Critics have disputed the Trump administration's claim that the agent acted in self-defense.
Smaller anti-ICE rallies have also taken place in major cities including Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Washington, with dozens more demonstrations planned. The situation escalated further on January 8 when a US Border Patrol agent in Portland, Oregon, shot and wounded a man and a woman in their car. These events underscore the growing tensions surrounding President Donald Trump's immigration policies and the actions of federal agencies like ICE and Border Patrol.
