SLALOM, IMMIGRATION, AND TRUMP

Slalom was awarded $193.9 million in contracts with USCIS, providing computer programming services to the agency.[1]

Slalom performed work on USCIS’s cloud-based systems, and according to Slalom, “With the cloud solution in place, USCIS was able to increase the speed and accuracy of its data processing, so immigrants can more easily access benefits and start building their new life in America.”[2] In 2025, USCIS stated, “By sharing data and using advanced analytics, USCIS is strengthening its partnership with ICE in support of President Trump’s EO on immigration enforcement. This collaboration enhances national security and accelerates enforcement actions.”[3]

State legislators in Connecticut and Washington asked Slalom whether its work for USCIS facilitated USCIS’s referrals to ICE.  Slalom wrote to Connecticut State Senator Looney, “Slalom has not contracted with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide services. Questions about federal immigration policy or enforcement activity should be directed to the appropriate government agencies.”

Slalom leaders’ political donations

  • Slalom Build Founder Mike Cowden[4] donated to support Trump election efforts.[5]
  • Slalom board member John Connors[6] donated to support Trump election efforts,[7] and the election of Congressman Michael Baumgartner in 2025.[8] Congressman Baumgartner co-signed a letter with Ohio Republican Congressman Jim Jordan expressing support for ICE and displeasure with the State of Washington’s sanctuary laws.[9] Connors also donated to Doug Burgum for America, Inc.[10] Burgum now serves as Trump’s Secretary of the Interior, where he proposed a federal seizure of California state land, stating, “That gives our troops that are down there working to secure that border more authorities about detaining people. If they step on that land, it helps to improve the security.”[11]
  • Slalom board member Bryan Weeks[12] donated to a PAC[13] which contributed to the election of Congressman Russell Newhouse,[14] who is “fighting to restart construction of the southern border wall, because a country without borders isn’t a country at all.”[15]

Slalom and H-1B

Slalom began employing H-1B workers as early as 2011.[16] In 2023, Slalom laid off 7% of its workforce,[17] but continued using the H-1B program, and has used it every year since then.

Slalom has denied “replacing” its employees with H-1B workers, and stated that its workforce reductions in 2023 “were unrelated to H-1B roles.” What jobs did the H1-B workers perform and what jobs did the laid off workers perform? Was there any overlap in the duties? We don’t know the answers to these questions but would like to find out.

What does Slalom stand for?

For more information, email [email protected].

Notes

[1] Slalom Consulting profile. Recipient D975PL76FFK7. Accessed 7/6/26. https://www.usaspending.gov/search/?hash=acae7179600e0fc64fdc47e076e47e9d.
[2] Slalom website, “US Citizenship and Immigration Services – Enhancing critical systems,” accessed 8/7/26. https://www.slalom.com/us/en/customer-stories/uscis.
[3] USCIS LinkedIn post, accessed 7/21/26. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/uscis_by-sharing-data-and-utilizing-advanced-analytics-activity-7318678819849076737-6U6h/.
[4] https://www.geekwire.com/2019/tech-moves-easy-metrics-lands-new-cmo-rakhi-voria-jumps-ibm-microsoft/.
[5] Data downloaded on 8/19/26. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=cowden%2C+michael&contributor_name=cowden%2C+mike&contributor_state=WA.
[6] https://www.slalom.com/us/en/who-we-are/newsroom/john-connors-board-directors.
[7] https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202407159660574106.
[8] https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202601309794719417.
[9] https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:d16d3aca-caa4-4192-a0ec-a471e652b502.
[10] https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202310209598738282.
[11] https://newrepublic.com/post/204656/donald-trump-secretary-doug-burgum-military-installation-stop-immigration.
[12] https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-weeks/.
[13] https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202001319184847436.
[14] https://www.fec.gov/data/disbursements/?committee_id=C00421016&two_year_transaction_period=2024&data_type=processed.
[15] https://newhouse.house.gov/issues/immigration.
[16] https://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-and-studies/h-1b-employer-data-hub.
[17] https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2023/09/07/slalom-consulting-layoffs-seattle.html.