97 Tech Companies Including Apple and Google File Brief Against Trump Travel BanThe tech community is putting their words into legal action.

ByNina Zipkin

Timothy A. Clary | Getty Images
Tech CEO's meets with President-elect Donald Trump.

Afterspeaking outagainst President Donald Trump's travel ban, members of the tech community are now seeking to take the administration to court.

On Jan. 27, Trump issued an executive order, "Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States," which suspended refugee admission to the U.S. and banned citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from traveling to the United States for the next three months.

Last Monday,Washingtonwas the first state to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop the enforcement of the order. Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts, Virginia and Hawaii soon followed in launching similar legal actions.

Related:40 Reactions (and Counting) to Trump's Travel Ban From Richard Branson to Sheryl Sandberg

On Friday, U.S. District Judge James Robart, a federal judge in Washington State,ruledto temporarily halt the order nationally. On Sunday, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appealsdeniedthe Justice Department's request to reinstate the order.

Ninety-seven tech companies filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in Washington supporting the state's attorney general Bob Ferguson in the suit. The list of businesses attached to the brief is a who's who of Silicon Valley.

The list includes Airbnb, Apple, eBay, Etsy, Facebook, Google, Lyft, Microsoft, Netflix, Reddit, Snap, Uber -- whose CEO Travis Kalanickrecently leftthe President's Strategic & Policy Forum -- and Twitter, on whose platform the president used to denigrate Judge Robart's credentials.

Related:Elon Musk Defends Role on Trump Advisory Board. Read His Full Text Explanation.

Thebrief, made available in full byThe Washington Post, argues that the order not only "inflicts significant harm on American business, innovation," but that "through its arbitrary and discretionary restrictions on entry, the Order makes it far more difficult and expensive for U.S. companies to recruit, hire, and retain the world's best employees. By imposing sweeping restrictions on travel, the Order prevents countless employees, clients, and business partners from entering or leaving the country. The Order's discriminatory bans based on nationality and religion present America as a country inhospitable to outsiders, deterring the best and brightest from joining its workforce. And because of all this, the Order will inevitably lead to the flight of talent, business, and investment from the United States and overseas, sapping the country of the driver of so much of its success."

Though Judge Robart ruled in favor of the state, inBoston, U.S. district judge Nathaniel Gorton ruled not to extend extend a temporary restraining order against the ban. The contradictory rulings appear to signal that the legal fight will continue.
Wavy Line
Nina Zipkin

Entrepreneur Staff

Staff Writer. Covers leadership, media, technology and culture.

Nina Zipkin is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com. She frequently covers leadership, media, tech, startups, culture and workplace trends.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

一个81岁的佛罗里达州首席执行官25美元的指控0 Million Ponzi Scheme Ran a Sprawling Senior Citizen Crime Ring

Carl Ruderman is the fifth senior citizen in the Miami-Fort-Lauderdale-Palm Beach metropolitan area to face charges in connection with the scam.

Business News

Steve Jobs's Son Is Diving Into Venture Capital — and His Focus Hits Close to Home

Reed Jobs, 31, launched venture capital firm Yosemite, which already boasts $200 million from investors and institutions.

Business News

Taco Bell Slammed With Lawsuit Over 'Especially Concerning' Advertisements, Allegedly Deceiving Customers

The class action lawsuit claims the chain is advertising more than they deliver.

Business News

Goldman Sachs Senior Analyst Vanishes After Concert in Brooklyn

John Castic, 27, was last seen around 2:30 a.m. Saturday.

Money & Finance

Want to Become a Millionaire? Follow Warren Buffett's 4 Rules.

企业家是不能过度指狗万官方望太多a company exit for their eventual 'win.' Do this instead.

Leadership

The Power of Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurship — How Social Entrepreneurs Are Changing the World

Social entrepreneurs are the torchbearers of hope and progress, redefining the role of business in society.