Billie was a longtime legal editor at Thomson Reuters and a founding member of the Committee to Restore Trust. In March 2026, she was fired after speaking-up.

What happened

Billie was one of more than 200 Thomson Reuters employees who raised concerns internally about how the company's data tools were being used by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies. Employees worried these tools were being used in ways that could enable unlawful surveillance, bypass constitutional privacy protections, and contribute to civil rights violations during immigration enforcement actions, including use during Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis.

After the employee letter to leadership became public, the company investigated Billie and terminated her, citing a vague code of conduct violation. She has now filed a whistleblower lawsuit in Oregon, alleging her firing was retaliation for protected speech. Thomson Reuters denies wrongdoing and maintains its products are used lawfully, and as intended.

Why this matters

She raised concerns through internal channels, alongside hundreds of colleagues, about how the tools we build might be misused.

Whistleblower lawsuits take time and have costs. Billie is a single mother and job loss is catastrophic.

Holding corporations accountable through the courts is expensive, and Billie shouldn't have to face it alone.

Where your money goes

All funds raised will help Billie cover legal costs associated with her lawsuit against Thomson Reuters as well as living expenses as she looks for a new job.

How you can help:

Billie stood up for what she believed in, and now we can stand with her.

References:

Thomson Reuters criticized by some Minnesota employees over its ICE contract: https://www.startribune.com/ice-crackdown-thomson-reuters-eagan-license-plate-data-westlaw-clear/601583754?utm_source=gift

They Don’t Want Their Company’s Surveillance Tool Used by ICE: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/11/technology/thomson-reuters-ice-minnesota.html?unlocked_article_code=1.SVA._U_H.o8LD0bvhHXQT&smid=url-share

How Thomson Reuters Powers ICE and Palantir: https://www.404media.co/how-thomson-reuters-powers-ice-and-palantir/

Oregon legal editor sues Thomson Reuters claiming retaliation over ICE concerns: https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2026/04/oregon-lawyer-sues-thomson-reuters-claiming-retaliation-over-ice-concerns.html

She raised concerns about her company's contracts with ICE. Then she lost her job: https://www.npr.org/2026/04/21/nx-s1-5786915/ice-immigration-enforcement-data-thomson-reuters

Ousted Whistleblower Files Suit Against Thomson Reuters Over Dismissal: https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/courtside/ousted-whistleblower-files-suit-against-thomson-reuters-over-dismissal/

Thomson Reuters faces growing pressure over US immigration work: https://www.ft.com/content/fe3d1ad7-ffd3-40f3-a35a-4d00a351687d?syn-25a6b1a6=1