Microsoft CEO calls U.S. border policy affecting migrant children 'cruel and abusive'

Microsoft this week establish itself in the middle of the controversy surrounding the Trump assistants's "zero tolerance" policy responsible for separating children from migrant families caught illegally crossing the U.Due south.-Mexico border. The crux of the issue lies in a January blog post that highlighted Microsoft'due south work with U.Southward. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which acquired an uproar on social media, somewhen leading the company to outcome a statement in which it said it was "dismayed past the forcible separation of children from their families at the edge."

Merely as the spotlight continues to grow, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has decided to speak out on the issue in a letter sent to employees. In the letter, which Nadella subsequently posted on LinkedIn in its entirety, the Microsoft executive cites his personal experience every bit an immigrant while calling the current policy "cruel and abusive."

Nadella besides downplayed Microsoft'southward interest with Ice, emphasizing that it is "non working with the U.S. regime on any projects related to separating children from their families at the edge." Rather, Microsoft'south piece of work with ICE is limited to providing support for legacy mail, agenda, messaging, and certificate management.

From Nadella:

Microsoft has a long history of taking a principled approach to how we live up to our mission of empowering every person and every arrangement on the planet to accomplish more than with technology platforms and tools, while besides standing upward for our enduring values and ethics. Any date with whatsoever regime has been and will exist guided past our ideals and principles. We will continue to accept this dialogue both within our company and with our stakeholders outside.

In a separate post at Microsoft's On the Issues blog, Microsoft President and Chief Legal Office Brad Smith highlighted the need for congress to act in an endeavor to eliminate the current policy of separating children from their families, which was put into place in April. From Smith:

There's been a lot of political rhetoric this week about who is responsible for this separation of kids from their families. But there is one thing that no one tin dispute: something changed in April. And information technology wasn't the discovery of some new legal whorl that all of a sudden said the constabulary should be interpreted in a different way. Instead information technology was a departure from the practice of prior administrations and a new surge in the separation of children from their families. As individuals and groups across the state have spoken up to recognize, this practice violates the fundamental humanitarian principles that ascertain us as a people. Information technology needs to finish. And if the administration will not end this on its own, Congress needs to do so.

Smith also brought attention to Kids in Demand of Defence (KIND), which Microsoft co-founded in 2008 and with which Smith has been personally involved. The initiative provides gratis legal back up for unaccompanied children and is especially focused on profitable those who are fleeing from unsafe situations and disharmonize in their home countries.

Both Smith's and Nadella'southward comments come equally Microsoft is facing increasing pressure level not merely from the public but its own employees to finish its work with ICE. In an open alphabetic character reported by The New York Times, more than than 100 Microsoft employees protested the work, stating in part: "Nosotros believe that Microsoft must take an ethical stand, and put children and families above profits." From the letter of the alphabet:

Nosotros request that Microsoft cancel its contracts with Ice, and with other clients who directly enable ICE. Every bit the people who build the technologies that Microsoft profits from, we refuse to be complicit. We are part of a growing movement, comprised of many across the industry who recognize the grave responsibility that those creating powerful technology have to ensure what they build is used for good, and not for harm.

You can read the full contents of Nadella's alphabetic character to Microsoft employees below:

Squad,

Like many of you, I am appalled at the abhorrent policy of separating immigrant children from their families at the southern edge of the U.S. As both a parent and an immigrant, this issue touches me personally.

I consider myself a product of 2 amazing and uniquely American things — American technology reaching me where I was growing up that allowed me to dream the dream and an enlightened clearing policy that then allowed me to alive that dream. My story would not have been possible anywhere else.

This new policy implemented on the edge is simply cruel and abusive, and nosotros are standing for alter. Today Brad detailed our company's position on this consequence, every bit well as the immigration legislation currently being considered in Congress, and I encourage you lot to read his blog post.

I want to be clear: Microsoft is non working with the U.S. government on any projects related to separating children from their families at the border. Our current deject engagement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is supporting legacy mail service, agenda, messaging and certificate management workloads.

Microsoft has a long history of taking a principled approach to how we alive up to our mission of empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more with technology platforms and tools, while also standing up for our enduring values and ethics. Whatsoever engagement with any government has been and will be guided by our ethics and principles. We will continue to have this dialogue both within our company and with our stakeholders outside.

The immigration policy of this country is one of our greatest competitive advantages, and this is something nosotros must preserve and promote. America is a nation of immigrants, and we're able to attract people from around the world to contribute to our economic system, our communities and our companies. We are also a beacon of hope for those who need it the most. This is what makes America stronger. Nosotros volition always stand up for immigration policies that preserve every person's nobility and human rights. That ways standing with every immigrant who works at Microsoft and standing for change in the inhumane treatment of children at the U.Southward. edge today.

Satya

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