These tech companies are taking Trump's 'Muslim ban' to court
Tech CEOs and employees aren't just shouting #NoBanNoWall, speaking out against President Donald Trump's executive order to bar people of seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the United States.
Some tech companies are taking the policy to court, alleging the former real estate mogul and businessman has damaged their companies' economic success.
Amazon, Expedia and Microsoft, all based in Washington, signed on to a lawsuit from Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson Monday.
The lawsuit, against President Trump, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and high-ranking Trump Administration officials, asserts the executive order on immigration as unconstitutional.
The tech companies don't focus on the alleged unconstitutionality but rather issued their own declarations that it negatively affects their business prospects and their employees.
"We believe the executive order is misguided and a fundamental step backwards. There are more effective ways to protect public safety without creating so much collateral damage to the country’s reputation and values," a Microsoft spokesperson wrote to Mashable in an email.
President Trump's executive orders, announced Friday, put a 120-day halt any refugees entering the U.S. and a 90-day halt for all citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries. It also included an indefinite halt on all refugees from Syria.
Over the weekend, CEOs of tech companies issued statements -- some bold, others quite mild -- about the ban.
"We are committed to supporting all of our employees and anyone in their immediate family who may be impacted by this order, including assistance with legal counsel and support, and will continue to monitor any developments," Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos wrote in his email to employees.
"As an immigrant and as a CEO, I've both experienced and seen the positive impact that immigration has on our company, for the country, and for the world. We will continue to advocate on this important topic," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella wrote in a public post on LinkedIn.
Ferguson, the attorney general, also will be reaching out to other Washington-based companies, TechCrunch reported.
Topics Amazon Microsoft Donald Trump
Kerry Flynn is a business reporter for Mashable covering the tech industry. She previously reported on social media companies, mobile apps and startups for International Business Times. She has also written for The Huffington Post, Forbes and Money magazine. Kerry studied environmental science and economics at Harvard College, where she led The Harvard Crimson's metro news and design teams and played mellophone in the Band. When not listening to startup pitches, she runs half-marathons, plays with puppies and pretends to like craft beer.
