President Donald Trump's recent executive order that dictates a 90-day immigration ban on seven Muslim-majority countries has not gone down well with Silicon Valley companies.
Tech-oriented companies like Twitter and Netflix have submitted legal documents that denounce the order.
Apart from the opposition to the order from various quarters condemning the recent move by the Trump administration, several tech companies have expressed concerns on various platforms, mainly social media.
Legal Condemnation
Nearly 97 companies ranging from Apple to Uber have filed a brief that condemns the Trump administration's immigration ban directive.
On Sunday, Feb. 5, an amicus brief was filed in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. The filing puts stress on the importance and role of immigrants in the U.S economy, as well as American society. The firms initially intended to file the document later this week. However, they expedited the process over the weekend because of certain legal challenges pertaining to the order.
"The order effects a sudden shift in the rules governing entry into the United States, and is inflicting substantial harm on U.S. companies. It hinders the ability of American companies to attract great talent; increases costs imposed on business; makes it more difficult for American firms to compete in the international marketplace; and gives global enterprises a new, significant incentive to build operations - and hire new employees - outside the United States," reads the brief.
The companies were unanimous in their belief that immigrants are pivotal to the growth of the organization.
"Immigrants make many of the Nation's greatest discoveries, and create some of the country's most innovative and iconic companies," notes the brief.
The document also stressed on the importance of protecting the United States from harm, but not at the cost of relinquishing its fundamental ethos of welcoming immigrants. The brief also states that to protect the country's security, the government can arrange for background checks of people seeking to enter the country. However, banning them will not be a solution to the problem.
Tech Companies Band Together
Apart from Twitter and Netflix, organizations like Uber, Airbnb, Facebook, Intel Inc., Snap Inc., and more joined hands for the filing.
Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said in an email to his employees that immigration and openness to refugees is a major part of the United States' success and also of the ride-hailing service. Kalanick recently stepped down from Trump's advisory council after he drew flak from customers, which led to the #DeleteUber campaign on Twitter.
The draft of the letter expresses concern over the executive order, explaining how this decision will affect many valid visa holders working in the United States.
Photo: Gage Skidmore | Flickr
