97 Companies Join Fight Against Trump's Travel Ban

By Christopher Coble, Esq. on February 06, 2017 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

It seemed as if as soon as President Donald Trump announced his executive order banning Syrian refugees and instituting "extreme vetting" for travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries, the lawsuits started flying. One of the most important was filed by the state of Washington and was successful in getting a temporary restraining order blocking federal officials from enforcing the order.

Trump's lawyers appealed the TRO, requesting a stay until the case ran its course, but that request was denied over the weekend. The parties are still battling in court, and 97 companies decided to join the fray, filing a brief in support of Washington and claiming, among other things, that the order "effects a sudden shift in the rules governing entry into the United States, and is inflicting substantial harm on U.S. companies." You can see their full filing below:

Immigration Nation

"Immigrants make many of the Nation's greatest discoveries," the brief asserts, "and create some of the country's most innovative and iconic companies." And the list of companies putting their names against Trump's executive order includes some of the most iconic: from tech giants Apple, eBay, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Twitter to apps like Airbnb, Foursquare, Lyft, and Uber. Even fashion firm Levi's and Chobani yogurt got involved. They argue America is "a nation of immigrants," saying the "experience and energy of people who come to our country to seek a better life for themselves and their children -- to pursue the 'American Dream' -- are woven throughout the social, political, and economic fabric of the Nation."

In terms of the harm done by Trump's order, the brief claims it "hinders the ability of American companies to attract great talent; increases costs imposed on business; makes it more difficult for American firms to compete in the international marketplace; and gives global enterprises a new, significant incentive to build operations -- and hire new employees -- outside the United States." The companies are asking the court to rule in Washington's favor, denying Trump's appeal and permanently enjoining the government from enforcing the executive order. The Ninth Circuit is due to rule on the appeal in the coming days.

Here is the companies' brief, in full:

State of Washington v. Donald Trump by FindLaw on Scribd