Silicon Valley Reacts to President Trump’s Immigration Orders

Jan 30, 2017

Ashton Kutcher isn’t the only one protesting against Friday’s executive order – widely known as the Muslim ban. Several celebrities, tech companies, and executives in Silicon Valley have come out in opposition of what’s being called an immigration ban. Multiple tech luminaries are resisting the ban, and offering to donate to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) following the enactment of the immigration order.

The executive order was signed on Friday by President Donald Trump, banning entry for 90 days to refugees and visa holders from seven countries – Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Since the order was signed, thousands of visitors, students, and green card holders have been stopped from traveling to the country, sparking nationwide protests and sit-ins at major airports. The ban on green card holders has now been relaxed.

Along with these protests, major tech firms – who probably have more depending on the immigrants around the globe than any other industry – have spoken out against the ban, its negative impacts on businesses and the economy, and have also offered to donate to the ACLU after the organization sued over President Trump’s executive order on immigration. The donations are six times what the ACLU normally receives in one year in online donations.

Here’s how tech companies are reacting to the immigration ban.

Google – $4 million in crisis fund

One of the strongest reactions came from Google. In an internal memo, CEO Sundar Pichai said it is “painful to see the personal cost of this executive order on our colleagues”. Google co-founder Sergey Brin was also spotted at the march at San Francisco International Airport.

Google cofounder Sergey Brin at SFO protest: "I'm here because I'm a refugee." (Photo from Matt Kang/Forbes) pic.twitter.com/GwhsSwDPLT
— Ryan Mac (@RMac18) January 29, 2017

Earlier, Google had ordered its affected staff back to the United States. Pichai said that the company is “concerned about the impact of this order and any proposals that could impose restrictions on Googlers and their families, or that create barriers to bringing great talent to the U.S.”

“It’s painful to see the personal cost of this executive order on our colleagues. We’ve always made our view on immigration issues known publicly and will continue to do so.”

The company has also created a $2 million crisis fund that can be matched by up to $2 million in donations from employees. The fund will go to four campaigning organizations – the American Civil Liberties Union, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, International Rescue Committee and UNHCR. This is the company’s largest humanitarian campaign ever.

Uber – $3 million defense fund

Uber has created a $3m defense fund to cover legal and immigration issues for its staff impacted by Friday’s executive order. The fund will help cover legal, immigration and translation costs for drivers affected by the travel ban. Founder Travis Kalanick (a member of Trump’s Policy Forum) said the “ban will impact many innocent people – an issue that I will raise this coming Friday when I go to Washington for President Trump’s first business advisory group meeting”.

The company had faced strong backlash when it promoted disabling surge pricing near John F. Kennedy International Airport during a taxi strike over the weekend. Kalanick apologized for the “confusion” and also announced donating $3 million to set up a legal defense fund for affected drivers. But, many see this donation as a late response to the executive order, prompting a #deleteuber Twitter campaign.

Apple responds to immigration ban

There are no reports yet if Apple is funding to campaign against the executive order. However, the company CEO Tim Cook sent an email to his staff, saying that it is “not a policy we support”.

In my conversations with officials here in Washington this week, I’ve made it clear that Apple believes deeply in the importance of immigration – both to our company and to our nation’s future. Apple would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do.

Lyft – $1 million to ACLU

Lyft is one of the few tech companies who were the first to criticize the immigration ban. Along with pledging to donate $1 million over the next four years to the ACLU, the company gave the following statement:

Throughout our history, Lyft has worked hard to create an inclusive, diverse and conscientious community where all of our drivers and passengers feel welcome and respected. Banning people of a particular religion from entering the U.S. is antithetical to both Lyft’s and our nation’s core values.
We ask that you continue to be there for each other – and together, continue proving the power of community.

Netflix

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings strongly slammed the order, saying that President “Trump’s actions are so un-American it pains us all.”

Trump’s actions are hurting Netflix employees around the world, and are so un-American it pains us all. Worse, these actions will make America less safe (through hatred and loss of allies) rather than more safe.
A very sad week, and more to come with the lives of over 600,000 Dreamers here in a America under imminent threat. It is time to link arms together to protect American values of freedom and opportunity.

Slack’s reaction to immigration ban

Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield posted several tweets criticizing the ban. “My grandfather came from Poland between the wars, at 17, sponsored by an elder sister. Two more siblings made it. Everyone else died.”

"And he's just getting started." • It's still so hard to believe that this is real life. Nearly every action seems gratuitously … evil. https://t.co/ZcpdeUnlYf
— Stewart Butterfield (@stewart) January 28, 2017

Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX)

Elon Musk – who recently joined President Trump’s policy group and Manufacturing Jobs Initiative – said last week that people should stop attacking Trump because it achieves nothing. But, he responded to the immigration ban, saying the “blanket entry ban on citizens from certain primarily Muslim countries is not the best way to address the country’s challenges”.

***************************************************