Google and other major tech companies write open letter to Donald Trump

Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Apple are among the companies currently penning an open letter to President Trump opposing the recent immigration ban, according to reports.

The executive order was issued by Trump last week and immediately restricted entry of Syrian refugees to the U.S. as well as temporarily suspending those from seven Muslim-majority nations.

Many US technology companies have since offered support to those who have been adversely affected by the move, while Google pledged $4 million to immigration services. CEO Sundar Pichai revealed the ban had directly affected more than 100 of the company’s employees.

Now, these tech companies, alongside consumer goods, finance, energy and manufacturing businesses, are said to have united to state their opposition more directly, in a letter which may be published this week.

Here’s a draft of the letter via Recode:

Dear President Trump,

Since the country’s birth, America has been the land of opportunity – welcoming newcomers and giving them the chance to build families, careers, and businesses in the United States. We are a nation made stronger by immigrants. As entrepreneurs and business leaders, our ability to grow our companies and create jobs depends on the contributions of immigrants from all backgrounds.

We share your goal of ensuring that our immigration system meets today’s security needs and keeps our country safe. We are concerned, however, that your recent executive order will affect many visa holders who work hard here in the United States and contribute to our country’s success. In a global economy, it is critical that we continue to attract the best and brightest from around the world. We welcome the changes your administration has made in recent days in how the Department of Homeland Security will implement the executive order, and we stand ready to help your administration identify other opportunities to ensure that our employees can travel with predictability and without undue delay.

Our nation’s compassion is a part of what makes it exceptional, and we are committed to helping your administration identify approaches for thorough screening without a blanket suspension of admissions under the U.S. Refugee Admissions program. While security and vetting procedures can and should always be subject to continuous evaluation and improvement, a blanket suspension is not the right approach.

Similarly, we stand ready to identify ways of helping to achieve your stated goal of bringing clarity to the future of the 750,000 Dreamers in this country under the protections of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in a way “that will make people happy and proud.” Removing these protections by barring renewals would effectively end the program and eliminate the ability for these Dreamers to work and live without the fear of deportation.

The business community shares your commitment to growing the American economy and expanding job creation across the country. We hire both thousands of Americans and some of the most talented people from abroad, who work together to help our companies succeed and expand our overall employment. As you contemplate changes to the nation’s complex and interconnected immigration policies, whether business and employment-based visas, refugees, or DACA, we hope that you will use us as a resource to help achieve immigration policies that both support the work of American businesses and reflect American values.

What are your thoughts on the ban and the response from tech companies? Give us your thoughts in the comments.