Apple, Facebook and 95 other companies file opposition to Trump’s immigration ban

Some of the top tech companies including names like Apple, Facebook, Twitter, MicrosoftMicrosoft and others have filed an amicus brief with the federal appeals court against the President Trump’s executive order banning immigrants from seven countries, as first reported by Bloomberg.

An amicus brief is a legal document that is filed by non-litigants who have a strong interest in the subject matter, filed in an appellate court. These briefs advise the court of relevant, additional information or arguments that the court might wish to consider.

The news comes after a vociferous opposition by tech leaders criticising Trump’s immigration order terming it discriminatory and against American values. The tech companies, including Google, Uber, Twitter, Microsoft, Lyft, and others are also lending helping hands to those affected by the ban and have donated to non-profit law organisations in their own capacity.

While Airbnb launched a Super Bowl ad campaign emphasising inclusiveness with the hashtag #weaccept, Uber has created a $3 million legal defence fund for drivers affected by the ban. Uber’s CEO Travis Kalanick who was to attend a meeting of Trump’s business advisory council on Friday, stepped down from his post on Thursday after a backlash from customers and employees alike.

The amicus brief, which argues that Trump’s immigration order is illegal, highlights the contributions of immigrants to the tech economy while stressing the immigration controls already in place. According to the filing, the ban that was rolled out haphazardly wouldn’t only affect the businesses of these companies but will also lead to skilled workers no longer wanting to seek employment in the United States.

The companies filed their brief in a case brought by Minnesota and Washington state, which challenges Trump’s executive order. The Trump administration appealed the case to the 9th Circuit after a federal judge in Seattle halted the immigration ban.