Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is considering legal options to force the Trump administration to take back its executive order on immigration, Tim Cook told The Wall Street Journal. This news comes just a few days after Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook and other companies pledged declarations of support for a legal fight against the executive order in Washington state.
No details on legal options
Though Apple is considering legal options, Cook refused to elaborate on the possibilities. However, he did note that the tech giant wants to be both “constructive” and “productive” in its response.
The immigration order was signed last Friday by President Donald Trump, suspending entry of refugees from seven countries to America for 90 days. On Saturday, Cook sent an email to Apple staff, saying that they do not support this, and Apple’s legal, security and HR teams are contacting employees who are affected by the order.
Hundreds of employees have been affected by the order, said Cook, adding that he has been contacting “very, very senior people in the White House” to tell them that taking back the order is not only important for the tech giant but also because the strength of America comes from its immigrant background.
“More than any country in the world, this country is strong because of our immigrant background and our capacity and ability as people to welcome people from all kinds of backgrounds. That’s what makes us special,” Cook said.
Cook said many of Apple’s employees have contacted him with heart-wrenching stories about how the ban will impact them. According to the WSJ, one employee is expecting a child and is afraid that the future grandparents, who have Iranian and Canadian citizenship, will not be able to meet their grandchild.
Apple and Trump: a love/hate relation
On the other hand, the Trump administration and its allies are arguing that this immigration ban is required to keep America safe from potential terrorists. During his presidential campaign, Trump censured the iPhone maker, partly for producing its products overseas. But since the election, relations between them seem to have improved a little.
Last week, Cook visited Washington and dined with Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, a senior adviser to the president, says The WSJ, citing people familiar with the trip. This followed a private meeting with Trump last month.
Apple sells its devices in more than 180 territories and countries. Its staff has been increasing their contributions to refugee relief funds in recent days. Cook said that the tech giant will match those contributions on a two-to-one basis.
