US Immigration ban: Apple, Google, Twitter, Tesla and other tech companies react to the H1-B visa suspension

US President Donald Trump has suspended the entry of some foreign workers in a bid to boost domestic hiring, sparking opposition from corporate America and tech sector executives including Google’s Sundar Pichai and Tesla’s Elon Musk. The visa suspension, effective 24 June, will last until the end of the year and is expected to open up 525,000 jobs for US workers. [caption id=“attachment_5444281” align=“alignnone” width=“1024”]  Apple CEO Tim Cook.[/caption]

Google and Youtube

Pichai, Alphabet’s chief executive officer, said in a tweet, “Immigration has contributed immensely to America’s economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today. Disappointed by today’s proclamation - we’ll continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all.”

Immigration has contributed immensely to America’s economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today. Disappointed by today’s proclamation - we’ll continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all.

— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) June 22, 2020

Susan Wojcicki, the chief of Alphabet’s YouTube, tweeted: “Immigration is central to America’s story, and it’s central to my own family’s story. My family escaped danger and found a new home in America … at Youtube, we join Google in standing with immigrants and working to expand opportunity for all.”

Immigration is central to America's story, and it's central to my own family's story. My family escaped danger and found a new home in America. @sundarpichai is right - at @YouTube, we join Google in standing with immigrants and working to expand opportunity for all. https://t.co/ExJ5KT84ix

— Susan Wojcicki (@SusanWojcicki) June 23, 2020

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Google had 2,678 H1B visa approvals in 2019, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Amazon

“Amazon opposes the Administration’s short-sighted decision to pause high-skill visa programs. Welcoming the best & the brightest global talent is critical to America’s economic recovery. We will continue to support these programs & efforts to protect the rights of immigrants,” the company said.

Amazon opposes the Administration’s short-sighted decision to pause high-skill visa programs. Welcoming the best & the brightest global talent is critical to America's economic recovery. We will continue to support these programs & efforts to protect the rights of immigrants.

— Amazon Public Policy (@amazon_policy) June 22, 2020

The company had the most number of H1B visa approvals at 3,026 in 2019.

Apple

“Like Apple, this nation of immigrants has always found strength in our diversity, and hope in the enduring promise of the American Dream. There is no new prosperity without both. Deeply disappointed by this proclamation,” Chief Executive Tim Cook said in a tweet.

Like Apple, this nation of immigrants has always found strength in our diversity, and hope in the enduring promise of the American Dream. There is no new prosperity without both. Deeply disappointed by this proclamation.

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) June 23, 2020

Apple had 1,136 H1B visa approvals in 2019.

Box

“This is unbelievably bad policy on every level. It will only mean more jobs move outside the US, and in no way makes America better or more competitive,” CEO Aaron Levie tweeted.

This is unbelievably bad policy on every level. It will only mean more jobs move outside the US, and in no way makes America better or more competitive. https://t.co/hGVzhkXHuX

— Aaron Levie (@levie) June 22, 2020

In the digital economy, you hire where the talent is. When you restrict immigration, the jobs still get created, just somewhere else. And later down the road, when those individuals create the next Google, it won’t be here.

— Aaron Levie (@levie) June 22, 2020

If you truly believe in “America First” then you’d want to bet on people that have uprooted their lives to come to America to study and contribute research, help us innovate, join our workforces, or start new companies. That’s as America First as it gets.

— Aaron Levie (@levie) June 23, 2020

Box had 21 H1B visa approvals in 2019.

Facebook

“President Trump’s latest proclamation uses the COVID-19 pandemic as justification for limiting immigration. In reality, the move to keep highly-skilled talent out of the US will make our country’s recovery even more difficult. America is a nation of immigrants and our economy and country benefit when we encourage talented people from around the world to live, work, and contribute here. That’s more true now than ever,” the company said. Facebook had 1,518 H1B visa approvals in 2019.

Microsoft

“Now is not the time to cut our nation off from the world’s talent or create uncertainty and anxiety. Immigrants play a vital role at our company and support our country’s critical infrastructure. They are contributing to this country at a time when we need them most,” president Brad Smith tweeted.

Now is not the time to cut our nation off from the world’s talent or create uncertainty and anxiety. Immigrants play a vital role at our company and support our country’s critical infrastructure. They are contributing to this country at a time when we need them most.

— Brad Smith (@BradSmi) June 23, 2020

Microsoft had 1,701 H1B visa approvals in 2019.

PayPal

“Creating new restrictions for immigrants who seek to work in the US is disappointing — and will slow our progress as a nation,” CEO Dan Schulman said on LinkedIn. Paypal had 271 H1B visa approvals in 2019.

Salesforce

“As we plan for recovery from the COVID-19 crisis let’s focus on common sense & fair immigration policies. H-1B workers should be treated with respect & dignity. They generate real innovation & growth . . . benefiting us all and fueling our economy. We embrace all our Ohana,” CEO Marc Benioff said in a tweet.

As we plan for recovery from the COVID-19 crisis let's focus on common sense & fair immigration policies. H-1B workers should be treated with respect & dignity. They generate real innovation & growth . . . benefiting us all and fueling the our economy. We embrace all our Ohana.

— Marc Benioff (@Benioff) June 23, 2020

Salesforce had 267 H1B visa approvals in 2019.

Tesla

“Very much disagree with this action. In my experience, these skillsets are net job creators. Visa reform makes sense, but this is too broad,” Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted.

Very much disagree with this action. In my experience, these skillsets are net job creators. Visa reform makes sense, but this is too broad.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 23, 2020

Tesla had 324 H1B visa approvals in 2019.

Twitter Inc

“This proclamation undermines America’s greatest economic asset: its diversity. People from all over the world come here to join our labor force, pay taxes, and contribute to our global competitiveness on the world stage,” the company said.

"Unilaterally and unnecessarily stifling America’s attractiveness to global, high-skilled talent is short-sighted and deeply damaging to the economic strength of the United States." —@jesirae

— Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) June 22, 2020

Twitter had 117 H1B visa approvals in 2019.

Uber

“As a company that builds technology for a global audience, Uber believes immigration helps to fuel innovation. Today’s executive order is disappointing for people from all over the world and will hurt American businesses,” the company said. The company had 486 H1B visa approvals in 2019.