Microsoft, one of the biggest tech firms in opposition to the immigration ban implemented by President Donald Trump via executive order, is asking to be granted case-by-case exceptions to the new law, to allow certain travelers re-entry to the US while still protecting the security of the nation.
The formal request was filed by Microsoft in a letter to John Kelly, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, by their company president, Brad Smith. Smith, who is also the firm’s chief legal officer, noted that the deliberations and the broader debate over the immigration ban will, but should not be, affected by their request.
Trump’s order resulted in the indefinite banning of Syrians from entering the US, and a temporary ban on entry from six other nations, including Libya, Iraq, and Iran. Microsoft says that the immigration ban has affected as many as 76 employees and 41 dependents with non-immigrant US visas. Smith says that the needs of real people should be addressed even while the goal of the executive order remains under heated debate.
Smith points out that law-abiding holders of legitimate US visas, who were not in the US when the order came down, are currently stranded. Many are parents of children still in the country. He suggested several criteria for the granting of exceptions. These included immigrants with student US visas from an accredited university or non-immigrant US visas sponsored by American employers.