Tech condemns Trump: Apple, Microsoft, Airbnb oppose separating families at the border
Leaders across Silicon Valley called the policy "cruel" and "heartbreaking."

A father and son from Honduras, seeking asylum, are detained near the U.S.-Mexico border near Mission, Texas.
Apple CEO Tim Cook called it "inhumane." Airbnb co-founders Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia and Nathan Blecharczyk said it's "immoral." And Microsoft described itself as "dismayed."
They were all reacting to the moves by President Donald Trump's administration to separate members of families that cross US borders illegally. The US government has sent thousands of children to holding camps around the country, images of which have sparked international outrage, even from within Trump's own party.
On Monday, tech companies began issuing statements condemning the Trump administration's actions. Someone even added Trump's policies to Wikipedia's entry on concentration camps (though it's being reviewed).
Bowing to widespread pressure, Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order to stop the separation of those immigrant families. He also said in a cabinet meeting Thursday that he will tell authorities to reunite previously separated families too, according to a report from Bloomberg.
Here's what the companies have said:
Microsoft
Microsoft released a pair of statements after critics raised concerns about a January blog post in which the company wrote it was "proud" to supply tech services to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including its Azure cloud computing service and the ability to use "deep learning capabilities to accelerate facial recognition and identification."
As a company, Microsoft is dismayed by the forcible separation of children from their families at the border. Family unification has been a fundamental tenant [sic] of American policy and law since the end of World War II. As a company, Microsoft has worked for over 20 years to combine technology with the rule of law to ensure that children who are refugees and immigrants can remain with their parents. We need to continue to build on this noble tradition rather than change course now. We urge the administration to change its policy and Congress to pass legislation ensuring children are no longer separated from their families.
In a second statement, Microsoft added:
Microsoft is not working with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement or US Customs and Border Protection on any projects related to separating children from their families at the border, and contrary to some speculation, we are not aware of Azure or Azure services being used for this purpose.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella went on to call the new policy "simply cruel and abusive, and we are standing for change."
Airbnb
The three co-founders of the room and house rental service said in a joint statement that "ripping children from the arms of their parents is heartless, cruel, immoral and counter to the American values of belonging."
Ripping children from their parents’ arms is cruel. This policy must end. pic.twitter.com/R2b3FXtxqU
— Brian Chesky (@bchesky) June 18, 2018
Apple
Apple CEO Tim Cook said the Trump administration's moves were "inhumane" and "need to stop."
"It's heartbreaking to see the images and hear the sounds of the kids. Kids are the most vulnerable people in any society. I think that what's happening is inhumane, it needs to stop," Cook told the Irish Times.
Cook was in Ireland to open a new office for Apple there. During the interview, he also explained why he's spoken out so much on issues ranging from gay rights to immigration. "I'm personally a big believer in the way to be a good citizen is to participate, is to try to advocate your point of view, not to just sit on the sideline and yell or complain," he said.
Sundar Pichai, Google's CEO, said the stories and images of families being separated were "gut wrenching" and urged the US government to find a "better, more humane way."
The stories and images of families being separated at the border are gut-wrenching. Urging our government to work together to find a better, more humane way that is reflective of our values as a nation. #keepfamiliestogether
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) June 19, 2018
Box
Box CEO Aaron Levie, who's an avid Twitter user and often speaks his mind, called the Trump administration's moves "un-American" and urged the government to address immigration in a "compassionate and scalable" way.
The act of separating families at the border is inhumane and un-American. We cannot let this continue. We need our government to address immigration in a compassionate and scalable way *now*.
— Aaron Levie (@levie) June 19, 2018
Uber
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, himself an immigrant, said the stories coming from the border are heartbreaking. "Families are the backbone of society, " Khosrowshahi tweeted. "A policy that pulls them apart rather than building them up is immoral and just plain wrong."
As a father, a citizen and an immigrant myself, the stories coming from our border break my heart. Families are the backbone of society. A policy that pulls them apart rather than building them up is immoral and just plain wrong. #KeepFamiliesTogether https://t.co/g2Cu40zvcX
— dara khosrowshahi (@dkhos) June 19, 2018
Uber also said it's working with the National Immigration Forum, the US Chamber of Commerce and the tech industry's lobbying group FWD.us to push legislators to act. The company also said it's reaching out to law firms with a "strong commitment" to offer pro bono work to help children affected by these policies. The company also donated $100,000 to Kids in Need of Defense (or KIND).
Lyft
Lyft's co-founders Logan Green and John Zimmer issued statements saying their company would offer free rides to 12 organizations helping families separated at the border, such as The Texas Civil Rights Project, Kids in Need of Defense, Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid and South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project. Lyft also said it'll continue to support the ACLU with its Round Up & Donate program, which lets passengers round up the fare of their ride and donate the extra money to the organization.
We are taking action to help the families and children that are being unjustly separated at the border by offering @Lyft Relief Rides to 12 organizations (including @RAICESTEXAS, @TXCivilRights, @supportKIND) #KeepFamiliesTogether
— johnzimmer (@johnzimmer) June 19, 2018
We are taking action to help the families and children that are being unjustly separated at the border by offering Lyft Relief Rides to 12 organizations (including @RAICESTEXAS, @TXCivilRights,@supportKIND) #KeepFamiliesTogether
— logangreen (@logangreen) June 19, 2018
YouTube
YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki also found the stories "heartbreaking" and recommended ways for her nearly 200,000 followers to help.
Regardless of your politics, it's heartbreaking to see what's happening to families at the border. Here are some ways you can help: https://t.co/IFVG6g8AKO
— Susan Wojcicki (@SusanWojcicki) June 19, 2018
Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg praised organizations working to provide families at the border with legal and translation services and documenting events there. He also urged people to donate to those groups, including the Texas Civil Rights Project.
Organizations like Texas Civil Rights Project and RAICES are doing great work helping families at the US border get...
Posted by Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Zuckerberg and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg , meanwhile, have donated to a Facebook campaign to help reunite children with their parents. More than 121,000 people have contributed nearly $5 million to the Facebook fundraiser, set up Saturday by a Silicon Valley couple.
Twitter / Square
Jack Dorsey , the CEO of both Twitter and the payments company Square, threw his support behind the popular hashtag #KeepFamiliesTogether before asking Twitter users for their suggestions about the "highest impact way to help."
Do everything it takes to #KeepFamilesTogether.
— jack (@jack) June 19, 2018
What are the highest impact ways to help?
Mozilla
Denelle Dixon, chief operating officer at Mozilla, said in a statement the "cruelties" at the border go "far beyond disagreements over politics."
The cruelties Americans are witnessing today at our borders go far beyond disagreements over politics. As an American, and separately as a mother, I am horrified beyond measure by stories of children mercilessly separated, and kept apart from, their parents. The United States once championed human rights around the world. If we want to keep our humanity and the world's respect, the Administration must stop this practice immediately.
Salesforce
Marc Benioff, CEO of the business software giant Salesforce, tweeted out biblical verses, including "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," while linking to an article about the detention facilities.
[37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. https://t.co/hSm3cUuwXZ
— Marc Benioff (@Benioff) June 15, 2018
Casa Padre, is the largest licensed childcare facility of its kind in the country. Nearly 1,500 boys 10-17 in here now. They’re supposed to sleep four to room. Nearly every room has 5. They’ve received a variance from the state because of overcrowding. https://t.co/jtI7o21ZLF
— Marc Benioff (@Benioff) June 15, 2018
eBay
The online marketplace's CEO, Devin Wenig, said he supports border enforcement, but not separating families. "America's moral and ethical leadership is at stake," he tweeted.
Enforce the border—-but do not separate families. America’s moral and ethical leadership is at stake. This needs to be fixed now.
— Devin Wenig (@devinwenig) June 19, 2018
Postmates
Bastian Lehmann, the CEO of the delivery startup Postmates who's an immigrant himself, said that "needlessly ripping families apart is cruel and undermines what this nation was founded upon."
Needlessly ripping families apart is cruel and undermines what this nation was founded upon. We must do more to #KeepFamiliesTogether. We must not let bursts of tears at the border fall on deaf ears. And we must rescind this policy now. Take action: https://t.co/N007KUL5Pv
— Bastian Lehmann (@Basti) June 19, 2018
Cisco Systems
Chuck Robbins, CEO of networking equipment maker Cisco, called Trump's policy "cruel." "We need policies that reflect our values and do what's right for society," he tweeted.
Must end cruel policy of separating accompanied minors from their parents – simply un-American. We need policies that reflect our values and do what’s right for society. @Cisco @BizRoundtable #KeepFamiliesTogether https://t.co/E8QZfQ6amm
— Chuck Robbins (@ChuckRobbins) June 19, 2018
IBM
The business technology giant urged Congress to pass legislation to fix some immigration issues, as well as to keep children with their families.
We urge Congress to pass legislation to help #Dreamers, but the Administration doesn’t need to wait for an act of Congress to keep children with their families. #KeepFamiliesTogether #DACA https://t.co/svG2gaELNZ pic.twitter.com/08IGEXvhq4
— IBMPolicy (@IBMpolicy) June 20, 2018
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, who stepped down from his daily duties at the social network earlier this year, called a video of the camps given to the press by the US Border Patrol "propaganda."
This was the propaganda video...
— Alexis Ohanian Sr. 🚀 (@alexisohanian) June 18, 2018
Reprehensible. https://t.co/WX6W43FkUc
SV Angel
Ron Conway, who co-founded the San Francisco-based seed stage investment firm SV Angel, tweeted support for a bill working through Congress called the Keep Families Together Act that would only separate kids from their families if they're being trafficked or abused.
"#Republicans who fail to stop the #disgraceful separation of children from their parents will be #shamed by #history," he tweeted.
Thank you @SenFeinstein! Every single Senator from BOTH PARTIES must support this bill now! #Republicans who fail to stop the #disgraceful separation of children from their parents will be #shamed by #history. https://t.co/Nmjr3w9leY
— Ron Conway (@RonConway) June 18, 2018
FWD.us
FWD.us, a collection of tech companies lobbying for immigration reform, said it has been "supporting groups on the ground" in addition to sending members of its team to help immigrants affected by these policies.
We have seen first hand the damage and horror that separating and jailing children and families has inflicted on these kids. We have seen buses filled with shackled parents who are criminalized as a result of the 'zero tolerance' policy, all of whom are set to be sentenced for seeking hope, safety and security in the United States. We have heard first-hand accounts from those in this region aware of the regular turning away of families at ports of entry trying to seek asylum.
You can read about its efforts here.
Dropbox
Dropbox CEO Drew Houston called the practice of separating children from their parents "heartbreaking and cruel."
We're a nation of immigrants. Tearing families apart at the US border is heartbreaking and cruel. (1/2)
— Drew Houston (@drewhouston) June 20, 2018
Coursera
Andrew Ng, co-founder of the online education startup Coursera, said he's "deeply disappointed" by the White House's policies. "No one wants illegal immigration, but cruelty to children is unethical and we cannot justify it as 'deterrence,'" he wrote.
I'm deeply disappointed at White House policies that separate children from parents. No one wants illegal immigration, but cruelty to children is unethical and we cannot justify it as "deterrence." I am a proud immigrant, and have faith in the US to be better than this.
— Andrew Ng (@AndrewYNg) June 19, 2018
SmugMug
Don MacAskill, CEO of the photo storage and sharing service that just bought Flickr, said on Twitter that he typically tries to stay out of politics but that "this is about kids," adding the hashtag #FamiliesBelongTogether.
I try to stay apolitical, because I believe strongly that photographers on @SmugMug & @Flickr should tell *their* stories, *their* way. We (and I) shouldn't be a part of that story. This is different. This is about kids! And families! :( #FamiliesBelongTogther https://t.co/tM8roiSObb
— Don MacAskill (@DonMacAskill) June 19, 2018
CareZone
Jonathan Schwartz, the former CEO of Sun and current head of the health management app CareZone, publicly asked Dorsey whether the Trump administration's moves violate Twitter's policies. Twitter has been criticized by those who say Trump violates its terms of service by harassing other users and using the service to threaten the lives of millions of people.
So @jack, imagine a Twitter user bragging about forcibly caging children, separating them from their parents. Do you think that'd rise to a violation of your terms of service? Where does complicity start? https://t.co/wn5gtWGMxP
— Jonathan Schwartz (@OpenJonathan) June 19, 2018
Zillow
Amy Bohutinsk, COO of the online real estate company Zillow. disagreed with the White House policy, saying "We are better than this."
I can’t help thinking that if my dad – who was a 9 yr old immigrant – was separated or lost from his parents, how differently his life and mine would have turned out. We are better than this.
— Amy Bohutinsky (@amybo) June 19, 2018
Tumblr
The popular blogging service, which counts the music star Taylor Swift among its users, encouraged readers to call politicians to continue applying pressure to stop the Trump administration's zero-tolerance policy, even after the executive order was signed.
Originally published June 19 at 11:05 a.m. PT.
Update at 11:51 a.m. PT: Added statement by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg; at 12:15 p.m.: Added statements from Uber, eBay, Coursera and others; 1:15 p.m.: Added Lyft CEO and Zillow COO statements; 1:28 p.m.: Added Google CEO statement; 2:40 p.m.: Adds Ron Conway statement; 2:59 p.m.: Adds comment from Salesforce CEO; 3:08 p.m.: Added statement from Mozilla; 4:22 p.m.: Added details on efforts by Uber and FWD.us. 5:29 p.m.: Added information on efforts by Lyft.
Update, June 20 at 11:31 a.m. PT: Added that President Trump plans to reverse the policy of family separation; 12:38 p.m.: Added that Trump signed the order, and added comments from IBM and Postmates; 8:38 p.m.: Added Dropbox reaction.
Update, June 21 at 11:03 a.m. PT: Added that Trump is telling authorities to reunite previously separated families, and Tumblr reaction.
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