Dive Brief:
- Microsoft, Google and Facebook reacted immediately with concern toward Trump’s immigration executive order issues late last week, as reported by MediaPost.
- Google CEO Sundar Pichai sent a letter to employees traveling outside the U.S. on Friday, informing them that more than 100 members of the company's staff would be impacted by the immigration order.
- Trump’s executive order prohibits entry into the U.S. by citizens of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Libya for 120 days. Ava Benach, a partner with the immigration law firm Benach Collopy LLP, stated that H-1B visa holders cannot return to the U.S., although Benach was unsure about the status of green card holders.
Dive Insight:
Trump’s executive action has shaken a number of ad tech companies that employ workers overseas. Facebook and Google, in particular, are the two largest digital ad platforms, and the restrictions put on their staff could hurt the digital marketing ecosystem overall.
Given the amount of talent employed in the U.S. tech industry on work visa, the sector is justifiably concerned with the unexpected uncertainly the order has thrown into day-to-day business as the U.S. government works to clarify its safety measures.
The long-term effect could be a chilling in talent required for tech companies, including digital marketing and ad tech firms, even as the U.S. workforce that focuses on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) shrinks.
"We are limited in our ability to recruit internationally by restrictive domestic immigration laws," Microsoft said in a 10-Q SEC statement filed on Jan. 26. "Changes to U.S. immigration policies that restrain the flow of technical and professional talent may inhibit our ability to adequately staff our research and development efforts. If we are less successful in our recruiting efforts, or if we cannot retain key employees, our ability to develop and deliver successful products and services may be adversely affected."