Trump And The Travel Ban: Viber Provides Free Calling To Countries Effected By Executive Order

Viber, a communication app, is joining the numerous companies speaking up against Trump and his recent executive order regarding immigration. Starbucks has promised to hire 10,000 refugees within the next five years, Lyft is donating $1 million to the American Civil Liberties Union and AirBnB is offering free housing to refugees for the time being.

Viber is removing the fee for calls between the United States and mobile phones/landlines in the seven countries (Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen) impacted by the order. “We connect people. No matter who they are or where they’re from,” said Viber executives in a recent tweet. Any local call or message between Viber users is always free, but international calls require a fee.

Trump’s executive order does not allow any visa holders within the seven abovementioned countries to leave or enter the United States within the next 90 days in an effort to do an extreme vetting of the entire immigration system. At any point within the 90 days, the Secretary of Homeland Security may inform President Trump of any other countries that should be included in the list.

Major corporations are realizing the power they possess within the United States and are choosing to try and make a difference. Countless companies are using their social media followings, business strategies, and funds to encourage Americans to use their voice for things they are passionate about. Executives within The Ford Motor Company, Tesla, Amazon, and Apple have either expressed their frustrations or promised to help change the executive order.

Companies are even beginning to criticize each other due to their stances on Trump’s order. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance decided to strike in an effort to show their support for immigrants, but Uber drivers did not. #DeleteUber almost immediately began trending on social media because their drivers continued to offer services at JFK International Airport, where the strike had the largest influence. Since then, Lyft, another transportation service has seen an increase in business as well as app downloads.