Apple, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Oppose Trump's Travel Ban; America’s Secret Weapon [Video]
ByCorporate leaders of the tech industry have reportedly banded together last Thursday and drafted a formal letter in opposition to President Donald J. Trump's immigration policies signed last week.
Tech companies are spearheading heading the move, but are reportedly working to involve other industries, including media, manufacturing, and consumer product companies, according to Recode. The initiative by big American businesses is the first major push in support of immigration in direct opposition to travel restriction ordered by Trump. The ban triggered a backlash that erupted into protests over the weekend at airports all over the country, the report said.
Gist of the drafted letter
The letter draft mentions the valuable contributions of immigrant workers from all backgrounds, adding their concern that the recent executive order affects visa holders who work in the U.S contributing to the country's success. Accordingly, it is critical to continuously attract the best and brightest from around the world.
While they support and even offered to help in the government's effort in continuous evaluation and improvement of security and vetting procedures, they say that a full blanket suspension is not the right approach. Additionally, they say they employ thousands of Americans and just some of the most talented people from abroad to work alongside their American counterparts, to help their companies succeed, and eventually expanding their overall employment.
After days of serious criticism, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick stepped down from Trump's economic and advisory council. Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was the son of a Syrian immigrant, had there been a ban then, Apple would not exist, according to The Washington Post. Cook was also mulling legal options over the ban, which he says already impacted hundreds of Apple employees.
America's secret weapon
Five years ago, renowned theoretical physicist Dr. Michio Kaku asked: "How come the scientific establishment of the United States doesn't collapse?" He answered his own question by citing America has a secret weapon in the H-1B. According to Dr. Kaku, without the H-1B, which he said is the "genius visa," the scientific community of the country will collapse, citing America's Achilles heel, the educational system. Watch the video below.
Dr. Kaku's words five years ago are in direct parallelism to what the current industry leaders are trying to prevent from happening now in conjunction with the current ban, as well as, the administration's plan to reform H-1B visa norms.
