Mark Zuckerberg Criticizes Trump’s Actions On Immigration
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, has criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to ban refugees from entering the United States. President Trump has said that his decision to temporarily ban immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority nations, until adequate vetting procedure can be established, will prohibit radical Islamist terrorists from entering the United States. But consequently, Trump’s decision also puts a temporary blanket ban for any refugee trying to enter America.
“Like many of you, I’m concerned about the impact of the recent executive orders signed by President Trump. We need to keep this country safe, but we should do that by focusing on people who actually pose a threat.”
Zuckerberg took to Facebook on Friday following Trump’s signing of the orders, expressing his disapproval over the decision. The Facebook CEO wrote that the United States is a “nation of immigrants,” reinforcing his statement by stating how his great-grandparents were immigrants from Germany, Austria, and Poland, and how his wife Priscilla Chan’s parents came to the U.S. as refugees from China and Vietnam.
Zuckerberg urged the President to keep the doors to the Country open to all refugees, pointing out how Priscilla’s parents were refugees too.
“Had we turned away refugees a few decades ago, Priscilla’s family wouldn’t be here today.”
Zuckerberg also recalled the time he taught a middle school class a few years ago, pointing out that some of the best and brightest students in the class were “undocumented.”
“They are our future too.”
Zuckerberg wasn’t all critical of the U.S. President as he didn’t hesitate from praising Trump’s announcement that he would find a solution for the 750,000 immigrants that are a part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program under the DREAM Act.
“I was glad to hear President Trump say he’s going to ‘work something out’ for Dreamers — immigrants who were brought to this country at a young age by their parents.”
“Right now, 750,000 Dreamers benefit from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that allows them to live and work legally in the US.”
“I hope the President and his team keep these protections in place, and over the next few weeks I’ll be working with our team at FWD.us to find ways we can help.”
Mark Zuckerberg and President Trump haven’t exactly seen eye-to-eye until this point. Zuckerberg, the world’s fifth richest man, was also noticeably absent from the summit Trump had hosted after winning the election, where he had invited all top tech leaders.
Immigration lawyers have advised their clients from the seven countries (Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, and Yemen), particularly those with Green cards and H1-B type visa, not to leave the country, warning them that Trump’s orders will take effect immediately and could affect them. Ava Benach, a partner at Benach Collopy LLP, says:
“No one is really sure whether a green card holder from these seven countries can return to the U.S. now. It’s fairly clear that an H-1B visa holder can’t. If anyone in these situations has the misfortune to have gone abroad recently, it’s a treacherous moment, possibly for green card holders too.”
Trump’s decision will not only ban immigrants and refugees from the seven Muslim-majority countries but will also deny any citizen from those nations a U.S. visa for the next 30 days. Trump says that this time will be utilized to establish adequate vetting procedures. Trump has previously called these seven countries the hot-bed for Islamist terrorists and he believes that his decision will deter jihadists and terrorists from entering the United States. He says:
“We don’t want to admit the very threats our soldiers are fighting overseas. We only want to admit those that support our country and love, deeply, our people.”
I promise that our administration will ALWAYS have your back. We will ALWAYS be with you! pic.twitter.com/D0aOWhOH4X
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 27, 2017
[Featured Image by GongTo/Shutterstock]
