The American tech community faces a unique hit from Donald Trump’s travel ban against seven countries, but Silicon Valley companies have varied with their reaction to the executive order on border controls.
Over the weekend, the American President rolled out a 90-day travel ban against people from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, wreaking havoc at airports across the country.
The sudden ban caught out tech workers who had been travelling abroad, with an Iraqi-Canadian Facebook worker forced to dash for the border back to Seattle after visiting family in Vancouver and Google recalling staff from overseas to ensure they could come back.
Indeed, staffing – rather than the morality or legality of the ban – was the main public complaint from tech firms, with many pointing out that Steve Jobs was the son of a Syrian. Apple CEO Tim Cook said : „As I’ve said many times, diversity makes our team stronger. “
Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in a statement: „We’re upset about the impact of this order and any proposals that could impose restrictions on Googlers and their families, or that could create barriers to bringing great talent to the US. “
Box CEO Aaron Levie noted that tech firms already face a talent shortage. „Any policy that hurts high-skilled immigration is a disaster. “
More than a staffing issue
Critics noted that the opposition to the executive order often appeared based in financial matters and employment status, with others pointing out that Silicon Valley has been slow to speak out against Trump’s policies before they were put into action.
Some tech leaders did attack the ethics of the executive order, rather than solely the employment impact. Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix not only criticised the impact on the company’s employees around the world, but said the move was „so un-American it pains us all“.
Others highlighted their own experiences and families. „My grandfather came from Poland between the wars, at 17, sponsored by an elder sister,“ noted Slack founder Stewart Butterfield. „Two more siblings made it. Everyone else died. “
Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg shared similar sentiments.
