Boston Dynamics executives defended a contract for robot dogs destined for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, stating the units will not be weaponized, after hundreds of employees signed a petition demanding the deal be halted. The Department of Homeland Security awarded a $1.3 million contract on September 25 to Radeco, a Connecticut-based firm, for the provision of modified Boston Dynamics robots to ICE. Boston Dynamics staff delivered a letter bearing more than 300 signatures to leadership in early September, with half of the signatories remaining anonymous. Copies of the letter were shared with The Boston Globe and WBUR public radio station. The petition argues that the company faces significant risk by moving forward with the transaction. Signers cited messages from friends and family expressing disbelief and horror at the news, questioning how employees could accept the situation. The employees concluded that the danger to Boston Dynamics is too great to allow the deal to continue.