Remember how our new President recently signed an executive order banning U.S. entry to refugees and travelers from seven heavily Muslim countries? And do you recall how a bunch of executives in Silicon Valley then voiced their displeasure over that move?
Well, now a group of tech leaders are reportedly collaborating on a letter to Trump opposing the travel ban. Those involved include Alphabet, Apple, Facebook (News - Alert), Microsoft, Uber and some other companies, according to Kara Swisher of Recode.
Swisher’s story, for which I provided a link above, includes the full draft of that letter. But here are some of the key parts of the letter.
The letter talks about how the president’s blanket suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions program is not the best way to go. In saying this, the author’s say: “Our nation’s compassion is a part of what makes it exceptional, and we are committed to helping your administration identify [alternative] approaches for thorough screening….”
The authors also offer their assistance in helping the government create a strategy related to the future of the nation’s 750,000 Dreamers. The tech leaders say their hope is that they can work with the administration to forge a plan related to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program “that will make people happy and proud.”
As I noted in my prior reporting in regards to the tech industry and immigration, the tech industry employs many foreign workers, so it has a vested interest in the outcome of these discussions. As I also noted, President Trump’s executive order on immigration could be just the tip of the iceberg of the U.S. tech industry’s troubles in this realm. Reports indicate that overhauling the work-visa programs on which many tech companies heavily depend, could be next on Trump’s to-do list. Only time will tell. Stay tuned for all the latest and what it means for the tech industry.
If you’re interested in Tech, then you’ll also want to head down to sunny Fort Lauderdale, Fla. next week where ITEXPO will bring together thought leaders and industry executives for networking and discussions around all things Tech. There’s still time to register – hurry.