Google recalls over 100 staff members hit by Muslim country ban
GOOGLE has recalled a number of workers travelling overseas in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s executive order to temporarily ban the entry of people from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
More than 100 of the company’s staff are understood to be affected by Mr Trump’s decision to prevent citizens from Syria entering the US indefinitely.
The US executive order also blocks citizens from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen for a 90-day period.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai came out swinging yesterday on the controversial ban that affects some of his company’s employees from the named countries who usually work in the US, but were
‘It’s painful to see the personal cost’
temporarily travelling abroad either on business or leisure.
In a memo to employees Mr Pichai said: ‘It’s painful to see the personal cost of this executive order on our colleagues.
‘We’ve always made our view on immigration issues known publicly and will continue to do so.’
Both the American Civil Liberties Union and the Council on American Islamic Relations are gearing up for a legal battle contesting Mr Trump’s ban. In the first few hours following the announcement from the White House, it was unclear if green card holders would also be included in the exclusion. It is not known if any of the affected Google employees – who may be green card holders – are based in Google’s European HQ, based in Dublin. Reuters later reported that a top US administration official confirmed that those legally living in the US from the named countries without citizenship would have to be cleared on a case-by-case basis. One of two Iraqi men subsequently detained in JFK Airport has now been released. The ban may prevent Iranian Oscar-nominated director Asghar Farhadi from attending the awards ceremony in a month’s time. His film The Salesman is nominated in the Foreign Language category.
The US Embassy in Dublin confirmed yesterday that the order’s powers were now in operation at the US Immigration pre-clearance facilities in both Dublin and Shannon airports.
It also confirmed visa interviews for citizens of the listed countries have been halted but visitors from other countries, such as Ireland, will continue to be allowed travel freely for 90 days without a visa.
Dr Umar Al Qadri of the Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council, said he was appalled by the ban. He took to social media to say hundreds of Jews travelling to America during WWII were also stopped from entering and later died during the Holocaust.
He also said: ‘If his aim is to... minimise a threat of terrorism, extremism, then there are far more efficient ways to do that.’