Response to the Jan. 27 US executive order on immigration

On Sunday Microsoft issued the following statement in response to the Jan. 27 executive order on immigration:

“We believe the executive order is misguided and a fundamental step backwards. There are more effective ways to protect public safety without creating so much collateral damage to the country’s reputation and values.”

On Monday, Jan. 30, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella hosted an employee Q&A, where he offered more personal remarks, saying:

“I always come back to two things. One is the enduring principles and values that drive us as a company, that have made us and this country what it is, and my own personal story.

There is no place for bias or bigotry in any society, in any context. That’s where we start from. We will always as a company stand for that diversity and inclusion. And we’ll keep pushing at it, pushing at it, and making progress. That’s core to who we are. That I believe is core to what America is.

I mean, think about it, I am a product of the fundamental greatness of the United States. It is the ingenuity of the American technology that reached me where I was growing up that even made it possible for me to dream of being able to be part of this journey. It is the enlightened immigration policy of this country that even made it possible for me to come here in the first place, and gave me all this opportunity.

And so I always think about that. I will always advocate for that America that I know and that I’ve experienced.

And we will do that consistently. We’re not going to overreact because of any one incident, but we will always stand for what we believe are these enduring principles that really are going to be about us as a company, but also recognizing that we’re a multinational company that is an American company.”

As Satya made clear during the meeting, Microsoft will continue to work directly with employees and their families affected by the executive order, including providing them with legal and other assistance. And the company will continue to advocate strongly on these issues with the Administration and with Congress.

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