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Amazon Declares Opposition To Immigration Order

Amazon joined a chorus of tech companies in opposition to President Trump's executive order on immigration.

Amazon this week joined a chorus of technology companies in opposition to the Trump administration's recent executive order on immigration. 
 
The Wall Street Journal reports that chief executive Jeff Bezos wrote to employees in an email Monday that the company informed the White House of its position and contacted members of Congress regarding possible legislation to alter it. 
 
Bezos added that the company is prepared to support a lawsuit opposing the order filed by the attorney general of its native Washington state and that, "We are working on other legal options, as well." 
 
Trump's executive order, issued late Friday, temporarily banned refugees and immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim nations and reportedly stranded hundreds of travelers at the nation's airports.  
 
The order was rolled out without input from key federal agencies and was subsequently halted by federal court rulings. 

Protests also sprang up at numerous airports and a wide range of businesses criticized the order. The tech industry, in particular, noted that immigrants are vital contributors to their companies. 
 
The administration defended the order as a security measure and argued that its implementation caused relatively few problems. 
 
Amazon, in a court filing related to the Washington attorney general's lawsuit, said that 49 employees and 10 dependents are potentially affected by the order.  
 
The company's human resources officials urged employees from the affected countries against traveling outside the U.S. and indicated that the company was working on "contingency plans" for those currently out of the country. 
 
In addition, seven prospective employees born in Iran — but living elsewhere — could be forced to work for Amazon outside the U.S. 
 
“To our employees in the U.S. and around the world who may be directly affected by this order, I want you to know that the full extent of Amazon’s resources are behind you,” Bezos said, according to the Journal.

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