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Apple CEO Tim Cook called the fight to defend Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) “the biggest issue of our time” during a Bloomberg Global Business Forum talk in New York City earlier this week, saying that “this goes to the values of being American. This is: ‘Are we human?’ ‘Are we acting in a track of morality?’” Cook:
“These people — if you haven’t met them — at Apple, we have many that came to the U.S. when they were 2 years old. They didn’t exactly make a decision to come. They came here — they only know our country. This is their home. They love America deeply. When you talk to them, I wish everyone in America loved America this much.
They have jobs, they pay taxes, they’re pillars of their communities. They’re incredible people. And so, to me, it would be like someone coming to Mike [Bloomberg] and saying, ‘Mike, I just found out, you aren’t really a citizen here, you need to leave.’
This is unacceptable. This is not who we are as a country. I am personally shocked that there’s even a discussion of this. This is one of those things where it is so clear — and it’s not a political thing, or at least I don’t see it like that at all. This is about basic human dignity and respect. It is that simple and straightforward.”
Unless Congress moves immediately to pass a clean vote on the bipartisan DREAM Act, some 800,000 undocumented immigrant youth face uncertain futures following Donald Trump cowardly ending the program, including hundreds of DACA recipients who are helping lead the way in technology and innovation at Apple.
Earlier this month, Cook was part of a letter featuring 300 other business leaders, including chief executives from Google and Microsoft, calling on Trump to preserve DACA. “Dreamers are vital to the future of our companies and our economy,” the letter stated. “With them, we grow and create jobs. They are part of why we will continue to have a global competitive advantage”:
All DACA recipients grew up in America, registered with our government, submitted to extensive background checks, and are diligently giving back to our communities and paying income taxes. More than 97 percent are in school or in the workforce, 5 percent started their own business, 65 percent have purchased a vehicle, and 16 percent have purchased their first home. At least 72 percent of the top 25 Fortune 500 companies count DACA recipients among their employees.
“If I were a country leader right now, my goal would be to monopolize the world’s talent,” Cook continued. “I’d want every smart person coming to my country, because smart people create jobs.” And, smart people don’t set up fraudulent “universities” or run Trump Steaks into the ground after just two months.