In a message sent to Apple employees, Tim Cook notes that he is concerned about President Donald Trump’s recent executive order limiting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Cook said Apple employees are affected by the policy, and that they are going to be able to draw on the expertise of the company’s HR, legal and security teams.
Check out the note below:
“Team,
In my conversations with officials here in Washington this week, I’ve made it clear that Apple believes deeply in the importance of immigration — both to our company and to our nation’s future. Apple would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do.
I’ve heard from many of you who are deeply concerned about the executive order issued yesterday restricting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. I share your concerns. It is not a policy we support.
There are employees at Apple who are directly affected by yesterday’s immigration order. Our HR, Legal and Security teams are in contact with them, and Apple will do everything we can to support them. We’re providing resources on AppleWeb for anyone with questions or concerns about immigration policies. And we have reached out to the White House to explain the negative effect on our coworkers and our company.
As I’ve said many times, diversity makes our team stronger. And if there’s one thing I know about the people at Apple, it’s the depth of our empathy and support for one another. It’s as important now as it’s ever been, and it will not weaken one bit. I know I can count on all of you to make sure everyone at Apple feels welcome, respected and valued.
Apple is open. Open to everyone, no matter where they come from, which language they speak, who they love or how they worship. Our employees represent the finest talent in the world, and our team hails from every corner of the globe.
In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, ‘We may have all come on different ships, but we are in the same boat now.’
Tim”
Cook has thus far had a mixed relationship with Trump. During the presidential campaign, Trump attacked Apple for not manufacturing iPhones in the United States, and called for a boycott of the company related to Apple’s refusal to create an iOS security backdoor to aid the FBI.
Since then, however, Trump has claimed he has had positive conversations with Apple, and has spoken with Cook several times on the phone about moving factories to America.
Cook’s view of Trump’s immigration policy certainly isn’t out of place for Apple’s CEO, who has been outspoken about social issues throughout his tenure running Apple. At one time, Cook — a vocal opponent of discriminatory behavior — was considered as a possible running mate for Hillary Clinton.
Cook isn’t necessarily wrong that Trump’s executive order could hurt Apple, though. According to a new report from Bloomberg, Trump is next reportedly working on an executive order that would mean companies have to prioritize American workers over international ones. Given that Apple (as with many tech companies) recruits from around the world, this could wind up being a contentious issue.
“Our country’s immigration policies should be designed and implemented to serve, first and foremost, the U.S. national interest,” the draft proposal reads. “Visa programs for foreign workers … should be administered in a manner that protects the civil rights of American workers and current lawful residents, and that prioritizes the protection of American workers — our forgotten working people — and the jobs they hold.”
Source: The Verge
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
25 responses to “Tim Cook: Trump’s immigration freeze will hurt Apple”
so?
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Now we know why Apple is setting up development centers all over the world.
One more thing only Apple is affected? and adding Apple to the headline is a guarantee bait for clicks.
Pathetic dude.
Tough break Tim, hire American and check their citizenship credentials.
You’re a dope, and apparently a bigot.
Why, because he cares about the USA, and you obviously put the rights of others above ours? Maybe you should look up the word bigot, before choking on big words.
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They complained about foreign taxes, now this.
I don’t care what hurts Apple. I care about what hurts the US and our country’s safety and security.
We don’t create policies to help enrich Apple.
If you “care about what hurts the US [sic] and our country’s safety and security”, then you cannot •possibly• support the insane, so-called “policies” (read: knee-jerk, paranoid proclamations) of Dictator Trump. If you •really• care about what hurts the U.S., serve your country, or run for office… neither of which I suspect you’ve done.
As far as being concerned about our country’s safety and security, it has diminished •significantly• in the last few days •because• of Trump. A reminder: there has not been ONE SINGLE FOREIGN terrorist attack on U.S. soil since September 11, 2001. Not one. EVERY incident has been by American-born citizens, including military and ex-military members suffering PTSD, among other results of war.
Wanna protect America and keep her strong? Then promote good education, be inclusive, celebrate differences in us all, and understand we are a melting pot and always have been. As far as singling out a technology juggernaut like Apple—which has done so much for the productivity and entertainment of the world—it’s a specious complaint.
“A reminder: there has not been ONE SINGLE FOREIGN terrorist attack on U.S. soil since September 11, 2001. ”
Therefore, we should do nothing. Our country is based on immigration, so open the flood gates and let ’em come pouring in! Tell the 9/11 victims families hey, there hasn’t been any foreign terrorist attack since yours, so we can all chill, right?
Because it’s our responsibility to save every refugee from war-torn countries and take in every person from every country, because diversity!
Take a look at the immigration policies of France, Turkey, Germany…and see how that’s working out for them.
Sure, we celebrate differences in us all, we should never discriminate based on race or religion. The problem is, terrorists can EASILY capitalize on this, and waltz right into the US [sic, Mr. English Major] and commit horrific acts.
The Democrats have spent so much effort in celebrating diversity they don’t seem to have a plan or solution for that. They’re good at “Our hearts and thoughts go out to the families of the victims”
Frank, you’re obviously just paranoid. Your whole premise seems to be that since there HASN’T been a foreign terrorist attack since 9/11, NOW is the time to protect against it. You’re unnecessarily afraid, because a bigoted billionaire paranoid bully says you should be. This imitation a human being—who sees terrorists behind every tree (just as he sees an enemy in every person he’s ever dealt with—tells you to be afraid, to be VERY afraid, to keep an eye on your neighbors and watch for those “Radical Islamic terrorists”, and so you do. How sad that you feel THIS is what to concentrate on in these first years of the new millennium, especially in this great, secure and powerful nation.
It’s also obvious that you have not served your country, nor, I suspect, ever traveled in the world. You don’t appreciate what freedoms we have in this country (nor what infrastructure there is already in place to insure and maintain them), so you have no basis for comparison. Your position is pitiful.
“Your whole premise seems to be that since there HASN’T been a foreign terrorist attack since 9/11, NOW is the time to protect against it.”
We have to do something. Other countries sympathetic to refugees have met with tragedy, and obviously I don’t need to talk about 9/11. It’s like saying since we haven’t had a large plane crash recently we should lighten up on air safety and security.
Oh, I have traveled to over a dozen countries, so you’re wrong there. I appreciate what freedoms we have.
If we continue to be the safe haven for everyone and anyone, we are going to continue to suffer violence and tragedy by those who see us as the evil infidels. Love and hugs and diversity doesn’t work with terrorists.
In addition, I don’t give a rat’s ass how this impacts the richest company on the planet, and I couldn’t care less how much “entertainment” they gave the world. In that case, we had best listen to the Kardashians for foreign policy!
“…we are going to continue to suffer violence and tragedy by those who see us as the evil infidels.”
Sorry pal, it hasn’t happened in seventeen years. You can thank the administrations of Bush and Obama for that. Check in with me in a few weeks or months, when the terrorisism that we •haven’t• had in that period of time suddenly begins, thanks to our new, ignorant dictator.
As to your “traveling to over a dozen countries”, I doubt it. Oh, maybe you “traveled” meaning you touched down at the airport, scurried into a conference, and scurried off again to sample some local food or shopping, but you have not fully experienced life in other countries for more than a privileged day or two. That’s patently clear from your remarks.
By the way, if you “don’t give a rat’s ass” about Apple, what are you doing on this site in the first place? Go find some kindred on a national socialist forum. Try Breitbart, for starters.
“but you have not fully experienced life in other countries for more than a privileged day or two”
Wrong again. You couldn’t be more wrong.
The prejudice you’re showing is very uncharacteristic of a Liberal.
Go ahead with further incorrect, sweeping assumptions about me, I won’t respond.
Enjoy the last word, and onto your next march!
Thanks for allowing me to have the last word. Much appreciated. •Your• assumption that I am a “liberal” (whatever that term means) is totally wrong. Paint the world in black and white as you wish. I make every effort to see things more clearly, and in color.
Listen: there is nothing – absolutely nothing – a state security apparatus of any kind can do to keep determined actors from acting. If some clever lone wolf wants to do a terror attack, he will do it. The current policies also are very likely to spark domestic extremism and political upheavals, and in the end the American people will be the main people who suffer. Trumps policies are based upon “Alternative Facts”, his own mental figments that is. A wall to Mexico? There already is a huge fence and illegal immigration through that route has declined drastically over the past decade or so – border patrol already has nothing to do. Immigration stop for a list of countries that had nothing to do with any terrorist attack on the US? While Saudi Arabia, Americas “drill baby, drill” partner in crime, the home country of Bin Laden and his alleged 9/11 gang, of course is not on the list? What is the point? Nobody is protected. What protects all of us is the rule of law! And now international tensions already are rising, and meanwhile the same people afraid of alleged islamist terrorists are not afraid of their own ever ongoing domestic gun related violence with some 30,000 deaths annually, with around 1000 Americans being shot dead by their own police. Something is very wrong with your risk perception as well as your moral values. Aside from having your own home grown Timothy McVeighs, you are mass producing and marketing humdrum violence and export it around the world – as movies, weapons, wars and murder.
Boston Marathon Bombing?
Nice try, Random, but the so-called “Boston Bombers”—brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev—were •American• citizens. Education is a powerful thing. Give it a go.
They also were Chechen refugees at a time. What is the statue of limitation on terrorism?
Pretty dopey response there, well-named “RandomThesis.” Even the wording lacks clarity, not to mention whatever point you’re trying to make. Repeat: NO FOREIGN TERRORISTS have attacked the U.S. on our soil since September 11, 2001. Like the current Dictator-in-chief and his Ministers of Lies, Greed and Hate, feel free to rewrite history as you wish. It’s still specious drivel.
OMG, this is pure demagoguery and bullshit ….
Toward Apple, I agree!
Here’s a bright idea, how about you train and hire AMERICAN’s?
Every tried to force someone to master calculus or advanced coding? ;-)
In the interest of real news, it would be helpful for Tim to list the number of US employees Apple hired from these seven countries over the last year and last 3 months. Then we would be able to evaluate his claims.