Google Creates $4 Million Immigration Fund Against Trump Travel, Muslim Refugee Ban

Google has set up a $4 million emergency immigration fund after President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday suspending immigration from seven countries, according to USA Today .

Trump’s order halted the U.S. refugee program and blocked immigration from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia, nations that are predominantly Muslim. Massive protests ensued across the country after people were detained at U.S. airports.

On Saturday, Federal Judge Ann Donnelly in Brooklyn, New York became the first to order that refugees and others from the affected countries detained at U.S. airports should not be sent back. The ruling followed a class action lawsuit Saturday filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other organizations on behalf of two Iraqis — with ties to U.S. security forces — who were temporarily detained at JFK Airport in New York because of the executive action.

Google Criticizes Trump’s Order

Leaders from the tech industry were quick to criticize Trump’s “Muslim ban,” including employees from Google. Sanaz Ahari, director of product management at Google, was featured in a Wall Street Journal article Saturday explaining how the executive order affected her and her family.

“It’s turned my life upside down—overnight—without notice,” said Ahari who was born in Tehran but holds a U.S. green card.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who was born in India, shared the article in a tweet and said, “For generations, this country has been home to immigrants like Sanaz. Her story is playing out all over the country. Google is with you.”

Pichai and company co-founder Sergey Brin also participated in a protest at San Francisco International Airport.

Google Creates Emergency Fund

The tech giant created a $2 million crisis fund, while the remaining $2 million in donations will come from employees, totaling $4 million, according to USA Today. Apart from the fund, company executives will also donate money individually.

The money, part of Google’s largest campaign ever, will be given to four organizations: The American Civil Liberties Union, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, International Rescue Committee and UNHCR.

The donation plans were revealed in a memo sent by Pichai, confirmed by Google.

"We’re concerned about the impact of this order and any proposals that could impose restrictions on Googlers and their families, or that could create barriers to bringing great talent to the U.S.," Google said. "We'll continue to make our views on these issues known to leaders in Washington and elsewhere."

In the memo, Pichai said Trump’s order would affect at least 187 employees at Google.