Apple, Google and Facebook condemn Donald Trump’s immigration ban

Tim Cook and other tech leaders speak out amid concern over attack on values associated with Silicon Valley

The world’s largest technology companies condemned Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration after coming under pressure to speak out from employees who had joined their companies inspired by a mission to change the world. 

 

Leaders of companies including Apple, Google and Facebook sent emails to their workforces attacking the move to ban temporarily immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries. 

 

Tim Cook, Apple chief executive, said the company had told the White House the company did not support the policy. Mr Cook said “Apple would not exist without immigration”. The biological father of Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder, was a Syrian immigrant. 

 

Tech companies say that Mr Trump’s immigration policies are already undercutting their ability to recruit and retain engineering talent from overseas. Amit Kumar, chief executive of software company Trimian, told the Financial Times that many start-ups were increasing the size of their branch offices outside the US as a result.

 

“The shift was immediate, it was dramatic. People are thinking what is the right country to base their operations in,” Mr Kumar said. “I see that across the board.”

 

Tim Cook and other tech leaders speak out amid concern over attack on values associated with Silicon Valley

The world’s largest technology companies condemned Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration after coming under pressure to speak out from employees who had joined their companies inspired by a mission to change the world. 

 

Leaders of companies including Apple, Google and Facebook sent emails to their workforces attacking the move to ban temporarily immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries. 

 

Tim Cook, Apple chief executive, said the company had told the White House the company did not support the policy. Mr Cook said “Apple would not exist without immigration”. The biological father of Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder, was a Syrian immigrant. 

 

Tech companies say that Mr Trump’s immigration policies are already undercutting their ability to recruit and retain engineering talent from overseas. Amit Kumar, chief executive of software company Trimian, told the Financial Times that many start-ups were increasing the size of their branch offices outside the US as a result.

 

“The shift was immediate, it was dramatic. People are thinking what is the right country to base their operations in,” Mr Kumar said. “I see that across the board.”