Bloomberg reported on Monday that iPhone-maker Apple has joined 96 other companies in filing a legal brief opposing President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration.
The amicus brief was filed late Sunday in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and emphasizes the importance of immigrants in the economy and society. The companies originally planned to file the brief later this coming week, but accelerated efforts over the weekend after other legal challenges to the order, according to people familiar with the matter.
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“Immigrants make many of the Nation’s greatest discoveries, and create some of the country’s most innovative and iconic companies,” the brief states. “America has long recognized the importance of protecting ourselves against those who would do us harm. But it has done so while maintaining our fundamental commitment to welcoming immigrants—through increased background checks and other controls on people seeking to enter our country.”
Other tech firms participating in the amicus brief include Airbnb Inc., Facebook Inc., Google, Intel Corp., Netflix Inc., Snap Inc. and Uber Technologies Inc. Companies beyond technology signed on as well, including Levi Strauss & Co. and yogurt maker Chobani LLC. An amicus brief is a document that is filed in court by parties not directly related to the case under consideration.
Online retailer Amazon wasn’t listed in the brief, as company CEO Jeff Bezos has already backed the original lawsuit brought by the Washington state attorney general that brought a temporary freeze on the immigration ban on Friday.
The brief is in support of a lawsuit from the states of Minnesota and Washington, seeking to halt President Trump’s controversial executive order temporarily barring the immigration of those from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from entering the U.S.
“Of course, the federal government can and should implement targeted, appropriate adjustments to the nation’s immigration system to enhance the Nation’s security,” the filing continued. “But a broad, open-ended ban – together with an indication that the ban could be expanded to other countries without notice – does not fit the goal of making the country more secure. Instead, it will undermine American interests.”
Uber Chief Executive Officer Travis Kalanick stepped down from President Trump’s business advisory council last week after criticism from customers and drivers. Kalanick was to serve on the council, along with more than a dozen other U.S. executives. His participation led to much outcry on social media, resulting in a #DeleteUber campaign that benefited arch-rival ride-hailing company Lyft.
