(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (KUNA) -- President Donald Trump's executive order against travel for citizens of several foreign countries has been widely condemned by several tech companies The immigration restriction announced Friday bans citizens with visas from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, and Yemen from entering the US for 90 days.
Several countries have spoken out against the action, citing that it specifically targets Muslims.
Although most American corporations have remained silent regarding Trump's executive order, leaders from several tech companies have spoken out against it and are implementing policies to alleviate strains it may place on international travelers.
Google created a USD Two million crisis fund; the money will be sent to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has sent immigration lawyers to airports across the country to assist detained legal residents. Google's co-founder Sergey Brin also participated in protests at San Francisco's international airport.
Tech giant Apple has reached out to the White House to explain the "negative effects on our co-workers and our company," said chief executive Tim Cook in a statement.
He added that the ban is "not a policy we support" and that "Apple would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do." Airbnb founder Brian Chesky slashed the action, noting that "not allowing countries or refugees into America is not right, and we must stand with those affect." The home sharing company is planning on providing free housing to refugees and anyone else not allowed into the US.
The CEO of Netflix Reed Hastings said that Trump's actions are "hurting Netflix employees around the world, and are so un-American it pains us all." Microsoft cited that 76 of its employees are citizens of the seven targeted countries who currently hold US work visas and are directly affected by the order. "We believe in the importance of protecting legitimate and law-abiding refugees whose very lives may be at stake in immigration proceedings," said Microsoft's president and chief legal officer Brad Smith in a statement.
Outside of the tech realm, Golman Sachs chief executive Lloyd Blankfein told his staff that there is "potential to disruption to the firm, and especially to some of a people and their families." He added, "This is not a policy we support, and I would note that it has already been challenged in federal court, and some of the order has been enjoined at least temporarily... I want to assure all of you that we will work to minimize such disruption to the extent we can within the law." Finally, Starbucks has pledged to hire 10,000 refugees over the next five years, especially those who have supported or served with US troops overseas.
"I am hearing the alarm you all are sounding that the civility and human rights we have all taken for granted for so long are under attack," said CEO Howard Schultz.
Several airlines have also had to make adjustments to its staff on flights entering the US.
Emirates air which flies into 11 US cities said in a statement to the press that it "made the necessary adjustment to our crewing, complying with the latest requirements" regarding its pilots and flight attendant rosters.
Lufthansa which operates flights from Iraq and Iran has also had to make its own adjustments.
Nicoley Baublies, from the German cabin crew union UFO said, "Lufthansa has always ensured it has very diverse crews, with staff of different nationalities and that means that we are for the first time in decades are having to look at where people come from." In academic realm there have been several individual cases where visiting professors, researchers, and students are now unsure if they will be allowed back into the US if they return to their home countries.
Lastly, in the art world, Oscar-nominated Iranian movie director Asghar Farhadi's ability to attend the award ceremony was called into questioned due to the ban. His movie, The Salesman, is nominated for best foreign-language film. Farhadi said, "I regret to announce via this statement that I have decided to not attend the Academy Awards... it now seems that the possibility of this (my) presence is being accompanied by ifs and buts which are in no way acceptable to me even if exceptions were to be made for my trip." (end) ak.nfm
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