The CEO of largest social media network, Mark Zuckerberg has expressed criticism over President Trump’s executive order temporarily banning refugees from entering the United States.
“Like many of you, I’m concerned about the impact of the recent executive orders signed by President Trump,” the tech billionaire said in a statement on Facebook.
“We need to keep this country safe, but we should do that by focusing on people who actually pose a threat,” Zuckerberg added. “Expanding the focus of law enforcement beyond people who are real threats would make all Americans less safe by diverting resources, while millions of undocumented folks who don’t pose a threat will live in fear of deportation.”
Trump on Friday signed orders not only to suspend admission of all refugees into the United States for 120 days but also to implement “new vetting measures” to screen out “radical Islamic terrorists.” Refugee entry from Syria, however, would be suspended indefinitely, and all travel from Syria and six other nations — Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen — are suspended for 90 days. Trump also said he would give priority to Christian refugees over those of other religions.
Such a ban, Zuckerberg noted, would have affected his own young family. He pointed out that his great-grandparents were from Germany, Austria and Poland, and that his the parents of his wife, Priscilla Chan, were refugees from China and Vietnam.
“The United States is a nation of immigrants, and we should be proud of that,” Zuckerberg wrote. “We should also keep our doors open to refugees and those who need help. That’s who we are. Had we turned away refugees a few decades ago, Priscilla’s family wouldn’t be here today.”
