5 Groups Resisting Trump's Refugee, Immigration Orders

In the three days since the Trump administration announced an “extreme vetting” process for refugees — and failed to communicate the terms of his order with government agencies, resulting in confusion and an immediate denial of entry to many refugees and green card holders with visas — groups from international corporations to immigration attorneys have stepped up to register their concern.

Here are a few groups that have shown up to plead the cause for refugee and immigrant entry to the United States:

1. Starbucks: Supporting Immigrant Employees; Hiring Refugees

CEO Howard Schultz sent a staff memo Sunday detailing plans to hire 10,000 refugees over five years in the 75 countries in which it does business. Schultz also re-affirmed the company’s support for DACA and its commitment to providing affordable healthcare, regardless of what happens to the ACA.

“I write to you today with deep concern, a heavy heart and a resolute promise,” the statement began.

“We are living in an unprecedented time, one in which we are witness to the conscience of our country, and the promise of the American Dream, being called into question. ...We will neither stand by, nor stand silent, as the uncertainty around the new Administration’s actions grows with each passing day.”

2. Lyft: Donating $1M to the ACLU

On Saturday, CEO Logan Green spoke out on Twitter, calling Trump’s immigration order “antithetical to both Lyft’s and our nation’s core values. ...We stand firmly against these actions, and will not be silent on issues that threaten the values of our community.”

In a staff memo that same evening, Green announced Lyft’s commitment to donate $1 million to the ACLU over four years, “to defend our constitution.”

“We created Lyft to be a model for the type of community we want our world to be: diverse, inclusive, and safe,” the memo says. “Banning people of a particular faith or creed, race or identity, sexuality or ethnicity, from entering the U.S. is antithetical to both Lyft's and our nation's core values. … We know this directly impacts many of our community members, their families, and friends. We stand with you.”

3. Immigration Lawyers: On-the-Ground Support, Defending the Constitution

Speaking of the ACLU — the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups, including the International Refugee Assistance Project, the New York University School of Law, and law firm Davis Polk & Wardell, mobilized lawyers around the country to represent those detained by customs officials at airports. Others worked behind the scenes to draw up litigations and petitions, some of which led to a federal judge issuing an emergency stay to temporarily allow all immediate arrivals with a valid visa to remain in the country.

On Wednesday, IRAP sent an email calling for lawyers to volunteer to immediately go to airports where refugees were likely scheduled to enter the country, reported the New York Times.

“It occurred to us that there were going to be people who were traveling who would land and have their status affected while in midair,” said Betsy Fisher, the group’s policy director.

Throughout the weekend, moving photos of lawyers gathered at airports circulated on social media. Twitter handles like @NoBanJFK have popped up, sharing lawyer’s updates and next legal challenges. The ACLU reportedly brought in $24 million in online donations over the weekend — six times what it usually raises in a year.

4. Protesters: 'This Is What Democracy Looks Like'

So did this tweet, showing hundreds of protesters outside the White House:

Outside the #WhiteHouse right now. #NoBanNoWall @Sojourners pic.twitter.com/4JNL4Cl1QZ

— catherine woodiwiss (@chwoodiwiss) January 29, 2017

As did many, many others, as #NoBanNoWall, and #MuslimBan trended for the majority of the weekend. 

Actions continue this week, as some travelers continue to be detained at airports and protests continue to gather steam in D.C. and around the country. 

5.  Foreign Service Officers, State Department: 'Literally Hundreds' May Dissent 

A dissent memo from withing the State Department is circulating today, likely to be submitted within the next day with hundreds of foreign service officer signatures. The memo says the policy "runs counter to core American values," and insists that "alternative solutions are available to address the risk of terror attacks which are both more effective and in line with the Department of State and American values." Read the full draft here.