Zuckerberg challenges Trump over immigration, extreme vetting order

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has severely criticised US President Donald Trump’s executive order to limit immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim countries.

“Like many of you, I’m concerned about the impact of the recent executive orders signed by President Trump,” Zuckerberg wrote in his Facebook post. “We need to keep this country safe, but we should do that by focusing on people who actually pose a threat ... We should also keep our doors open to refugees and those who need help. That’s who we are.”

“My great grandparents came from Germany, Austria and Poland. Priscilla's parents were refugees from China and Vietnam. The United States is a nation of immigrants, and we should be proud of that,” he added.



Zuckerberg, who has become the most high-profile tech industry leader to speak out against the president since the election, further explained how refugees and undocumented immigrants are some of the "brightest from around the world".

“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.”

“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. 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.”



A week after taking office, citing the supposed threat of violent extremists hidden among Muslim refugee arrivals, Trump halted the refugee programme for at least 120 days. Even if the programme is revived in some form after this period, this will dramatically curtail the world’s humanitarian effort to resettle vulnerable refugees.