Outraged by Donald Trump’s anti-immigration executive order, several Silicon Valley companies have announced measures to help migrants.
To believe that it takes the worst to react. In the United States, the worst is called Donald Trump and his counterpart is an executive order, hastily signed on the corner of the Oval Office of the White House. An anti-immigration text which prohibits for at least 120 days the entry on American soil to nationals of seven Muslim countries (Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen).
The signing of this decree plunged the world and international relations into the greatest confusion – nationals stranded at airports, panic among “Green Card” holders, etc. – and provoked a general outpouring of indignation. Among these revolted voices were those of the big bosses of Silicon Valley, who recalled that the industrial wealth of this country comes largely from human resources from immigration (see box).
Disaster Response Program
Other multinationals have stepped up to the plate and shown their desire to remedy the flaws in the management of migrants in the United States, Trump’s version. Thus, the young CEO of Airbnb announced on Twitter that his company would offer free accommodation “to refugees and all those who are not authorized to enter the United States”.
Brian Chesky, 31, invites people in difficulty affected by the Trump decree to contact him to find a roof. According to Reuters, the company will launch its disaster response program (attacks, natural disasters, etc.), which connects hosts wishing to offer their accommodation to displaced or disaster-stricken populations.
Airbnb is providing free housing to refugees and anyone not allowed in the US. Stayed tuned for more, contact me if urgent need for housing
— Brian Chesky (@bchesky) January 29, 2017
About 80% of Airbnb’s supply is located outside the United States, the agency said. The company already has the means to provide housing to people who live in areas with no free offers, she said.
Insured health coverage
Another US giant expressed concern and anger over the executive order. The president and founder of Starbucks thus took up his pen to address his employees: “I write to you today with deep concern, a heavy heart and a firm promise”.
Starbucks will recruit 10,000 refugees within five years, across the 75 countries where the company operates, Howard Schultz announced. People fleeing war, persecution or discrimination, as well as those who have “served US troops as interpreters or support personnel” will be given priority, the company’s president, who supported Hillary, said. Clinton during the campaign.
In addition, if the medical coverage put in place by Barack Obama (“Obamacare”) is removed, as promised by Donald Trump, Starbucks has committed to providing insurance to eligible workers.
Should we see in these announcements a simple timely communication, or a real movement of indignation of which the giants of this world could take the lead, with their power and their strike force? Impossible, at this stage, to decide, but we must agree on one thing: Donald Trump at least has the merit of pushing everyone to their limits.
Facebook, Apple, Google… all migrants
Steve Jobs, founder of Apple: son of a Syrian immigrant. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google: Born in India. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft: Born in India. Marck Zuckerberg: an immigrant, like his wife and like tens of millions of Americans living in this gigantic melting pot that is the United States.
A few days after the signing of the anti-immigration decree, the GAFAs (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon) and other Silicon Valley companies loudly and clearly displayed their opposition to the philosophy underlying the text. The firms also insisted on recalling the negative impact of such a measure on their activity. According to Reuters, several American giants (Google, Airbnb, Netflix, etc.) are to meet during the day to think about legal ways to circumvent Donald Trump’s “Muslim ban”.
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