The petition was sent to company leadership in early September, after the contract was finalized. Employees argued that the sale could damage the company’s reputation and make staff appear to be working directly with an agency they said has spread fear across the country. They also warned the deal could prompt employees to leave and discourage prospective hires.

“We cannot be proud of working at [Boston Dynamics] when that work is being used by a government agency that brutalizes civilians, including some of our own colleagues,” the petition said.

A company spokesperson confirmed the petition on Friday, Oct. 23, and said nearly half of its 300 signatures were submitted anonymously. Boston Dynamics employs more than 1,500 people.

Interim CEO Amanda McMaster told employees the company had considered their concerns but would not reverse its decision. She said customers are bound by terms that prohibit attempts to weaponize Spot or use it to cause harm or intimidation. “I ask you to respect and accept this decision, even if you do not agree with it,” she wrote.

The robots, known as Spot, are four-legged machines equipped with cameras and sensors that can navigate stairs and other difficult terrain. ICE has said they would provide agents with information about hazardous or confined locations before officers enter, and would not replace human judgment.

Boston Dynamics has said the robots are being sold to ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations unit, which primarily handles transnational criminal matters rather than immigration-removal operations. The company’s published ethical principles say it will take appropriate steps if its products are used to cause harm, but the principles do not specify what those steps would be.

The planned sale became public in late August, prompting criticism of the robotics company. Employees wrote that the controversy had already reached their work and personal lives, citing messages from customers, friends and relatives questioning the deal.