An increasing number of tech CEOs are speaking out against Trump's border policy

Getty/ Drew Angerer

Apple CEO Tim Cook, pictured above at a tech meeting held at Trump Tower in the wake of the election, was among the growing number of tech CEOs criticizing the Trump's administrations border policy.

• CEOs from tech companies including YouTube, Airbnb, Apple, Box, and Twilio have chosen to speak out against the Trump administration's separation of immigrant families at the border.
• Microsoft, facing backlash for its continued cloud software contract with ICE, issued a statement as well.

An increasing number of tech CEOs are speaking out against the Trump administration's policy of separating families at the border. 

YouTube CEO Susan called the family separations "heartbreaking," and highlighted various activists groups that are helping effected families.

Apple CEO Tim Cook called the policy "inhumane" and one that "needs to stop."

"It's heartbreaking to see the images and hear the sounds of the kids," Cook said to the Irish Times. "Kids are the most vulnerable people in any society. I think that what's happening is inhumane, it needs to stop. We've always felt everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. In this case, that's not happening." 

Airbnb cofounders Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia, and Nathan Blecharczyk issued a joint statement on Twitter condemning the administration's practices. 

"Ripping children from the arms of their parents is heartless, cruel, immoral and counter to American values of belonging," the statement reads. "The US government needs to stop this injustice and reunite these families. We are a better country than this."

In addition, Jeff Lawson, CEO and cofounder of Twilio, published a Medium post titled "Separating immigrant families isn't just wrong, it's a war crime." 

"Intentionally separating families is objectively wrong, and we must fight it vigorously," Lawson said in the post. "No matter what excuses are made, let's call this what it is: collective punishment. The practice of punishing family members is not just morally offensive, it's also a war crime under the Geneva Accord."

At the end of his post, Lawson encouraged other CEOs to resist the urge to stay neutral and to speak out instead.

"As a tech leader and public CEO, I'm often advised to stay apolitical," Lawson said. "But this isn't politics, I believe this is a matter of objective right and wrong. Staying silent doesn't feel like leadership to me. I encourage other leaders to consider the cost of silence."

Aaron Levie, CEO of Box, posted a statement on Twitter saying "The act of separating families at the border is inhumane and un-American. We cannot let this continue. We need our government to address immigration in a compassionate and scalable way *now*."

Microsoft, after it came under fire for its continued cloud computing software contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), released a statement condemning the policy. 

"Microsoft is dismayed by the forcible separation of children from their families at the border," the statement said. We urge the administration to change its policy and Congress to pass legislation ensuring children are no longer separated from their families."