Microsoft releases Satya Nadella’s remarks to employees on Donald Trump immigration policy

As you likely know by now, this past Friday, US President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order suspending entry for all refugees into the US for 120 days and also placed a 90-day ban on entry for visa and green card holders from seven predominantly Muslim countries.

Many tech giants have since come out against the executive decision, including Microsoft, which revised their statement on the issue to say that it is a “misguided and a fundamental step backward.” Microsoft is already working with the state of Washington on a suit which challenges the order, and today the company released Satya Nadella’s remarks to employees on immigration policy.

The statement, which is seen here in full, contains Satya’s personal remarks on the executive order. The Microsoft CEO discussed how the company stands up for diversity and inclusion, and how he is the product of the fundamental greatness of the United States. He also discusses his personal journey and how the immigration policy of the US made it possible for him to become a CEO. Satya’s statement reads:

“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.”

Microsoft’s post also makes it clear that company will continue to work directly with employees and their families affected by the executive order, including providing them with legal and other assistance. What are your thoughts on Satya’s statement? Let us know what you think by dropping us a comment below.