On Friday the 27th of January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that barred the entry into the United States of immigrants and visitors from seven, largely Muslim countries, for 90 days.
The decision resulted in many US technology firms expressing their alarm over the travel ban, with the likes of Microsoft’s CEO taking to the company’s blog to reassure its staff.
One company, Airbnb has taken the step of providing free housing to refugees and anyone not allowed in the US.
Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, took to Twitter on the 28th to say: “Open doors brings all of US together. Closing doors further divies US. Let’s all find ways to connect people, not separate them.”
This tweet was followed a day later by one saying that not allowing countries or refugees into America is “not right” and that “we must stand with those who are affected.”
The CEO then announced that the company would be providing free housing to refugees and anyone not allowed in the US.
Chesky isn’t alone in expressing his feelings regarding the accounts of Trump, with Reed Hastings, CEO Netflix, taking to Facebook to write: “Trump’s actions are hurting Netflix employees around the world, and are so un-American it pains us all.”
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The executive order, which halted the entire US refugee program and established a 90-day travel ban for nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, was not met with immediate actions or protest from Uber.
The ride-hailing company did not support a protest by New York cab drivers, who opted not to pick up customers from JFK airport, and instead lowered its pricing during the one-hour protest.
Uber CEO Travis Kalanick did post on Facebook to voice his concerns regarding the ban and said that he, along with other CEO’s such as Ginni Rometty (CEO IBM) and Elon Musk (CEO Tesla) would be voicing his concerns to the President when the economic advisory group attends the White House on Friday.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the policy was one the company does not support and Google has recalled staff that were travelling outside of the US.
