Apple is reportedly thinking about taking legal action to pressure the Trump administration into rescinding the controversial executive order and immigration ban.
The news follows worldwide outrage and public outcry regarding the executive order and comes days after Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, Google, and other Silicon Valley companies denounced the immigration ban and pledged to support legal actions against the executive order.
Trump Executive Order: What Does This Immigration Ban Mean?
The executive order signed on Jan. 27 denies refugees' entry to the United States for 120 days, suspends the Syrian refugee program indefinitely, and bans people from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States for 90 days.
On Saturday, one day after President Donald Trump signed the executive order, Apple CEO Tim Cook sent an email to employees saying that Apple does not support this policy and the company's Human Resources, Legal and Security teams were getting in touch with staff affected by the order.
Cook also pointed out that Apple would not exist without immigrants and said that the executive order had an impact on hundreds of Apple employees. The CEO also noted that he's been contacting people in senior positions within the White House to highlight that rescinding the executive order is important not just for Apple, but because the strength of the United States comes from its immigrant background.
According to Cook, the immigrant background of the United States, more than any other country worldwide, paints it as a force with the ability and capacity to accept people from a wide range of backgrounds. That is what makes the United States special.
Cook's comments echo those of other leaders in the technology field. Google co-founder Sergey Brin, for instance, shared his experience coming to the United States at the age of 6 as an immigrant from the Soviet Union - the States' greatest enemy at that point. The United States welcomed him and his family back then, but the new executive order paints a whole other reality.
Apple Considering Legal Options Against Trump Executive Order
According to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, Apple is now considering legal action to fight the immigration ban, hoping to convince the Trump Administration to rescind the executive order.
Cook declined to detail the possibilities of this potential legal action, but did highlight that Apple wants to be both constructive and productive in its action. Apple's stance regarding the executive order was a no-brainer, says Cook, since the company is selling its devices in more than 180 countries worldwide and it's essential for Apple to "look like the world." At the same time, Apple itself would not exist if the Syrian immigrant father of late Apple CEO Steve Jobs was denied the opportunity to enter the United States.
It remains to be seen whether the whole outrage of the people and the public stance of major U.S. companies and their leaders will have any influence on the immigration ban. Trump has not even entertained the possibility of rescinding the executive order, but the fight goes on.
