Mark Zuckerberg to Trump: ‘We are a nation of immigrants’

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Mark Zuckerberg to Trump: ‘We are a nation of immigrants’
'We need to keep this country safe, but we should do that by focusing on people who actually pose a threat,' Zuckerberg says

MANILA, Philippines – Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg expressed his concerns about the impact of recent executive orders signed by US President Donald Trump on his Facebook page Saturday, January 28.

The United States is a nation of immigrants, and we should be proud of that,” he wrote. “We need to keep this country safe, but we should do that by focusing on people who actually pose a threat,” he said.

Zuckerberg’s post came after Trump issued an executive order (EO) that suspends refugee arrivals in the country and imposed tough new controls on travelers from 7 Muslim countries Friday, January 27. 

These new protocols will “ensure that those approved for refugee admission do not pose a threat to the security and welfare of the United States,” the EO said.

According to Zuckerberg, focusing law enforcement beyond those who are are real threats will only make Americans less safe “while millions of undocumented folks who don’t pose a threat will live in fear of deportation.”

He also said that the US should keep its doors open to refugees and those who need help.

According to the Facebook founder, he was glad to hear Trump “work something out” for the Dreamers – unauthorized immigrants who have been protected from deportation by the Deffered Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program created by former US president Barack Obama.

On Wednesday, January 25, Trump told ABC News that he does not worry about the young illegal immigrants protected under DACA. Since the program started in 2012, more than 750,000 applications have been approved.

“I hope the President and his team allows them to live and work legally in the US. I hope the President and his team keep these protections in place, and over the next few weeks I’ll be working with our team at the FWD.us to find ways we can help,” he said.

FWD.us is a community of entrepreneurs and engineers in the US that mobilizes the technology community to support policies on immigration reform, improving education, and encouraging investment in scientific education.  

Zuckerberg also shared that his grandparents came from Germany, Austria, and Poland, while the parents of his wife Priscilla were refugees from China and Vietnam.

“These issues are personal for me even beyond my family. A few years ago, I taught a class at a local middle school where some of my best students were undocumented. They are our future, too,” he wrote. 

Zuckerberg’s post elicited more than 367,000 “reactions” and 41,000 shares as of posting.

“We are a nation of immigrants, and we all benefit when the best and brightest from around the world can live, work and contribute here. I hope we find the courage and compassion to bring people together and make this world a better place for everyone.” – Aika Rey/Rappler.com

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