Rocketrip Joins Petition Opposing Travel Ban
Yesterday Rocketrip joined more than 400 startups in signing a letter from Tech:NYC opposing President Trump’s executive order on immigration.
It’s important that we maintain an environment at Rocketrip in which we all feel safe expressing our beliefs. Diversity of opinion is and will always be respected here. That spirit of tolerance also guides how we view the wider world. It’s in the best interest of our organization and employees that our country remains an open, compassionate, and dynamic place.
We’re lending our support to Tech:NYC’s petition because we believe that President Trump’s executive order does not reflect the values that have inspired millions of people to seek a better life in America. At Rocketrip, we’re committed to upholding those values in our organization while supporting freedom and fairness for travelers everywhere.
Below is the letter sent from the New York tech community; you can add your name here.
January 30, 2016
President Trump,
We are business leaders and investors from New York City’s robust and growing technology sector. Among the reasons we proudly build and grow companies here in New York City is the rich diversity the city and its residents provide. We write out of concern that your recent executive orders will undermine that and send a dangerous message to all immigrants that they are not welcome here.
America has long provided homes and futures to millions who dared to share in our collective dream. There is nowhere this is more true than New York City—home to Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and more foreign-born immigrants than any other city in the world. Your executive orders suspending entry for citizens of certain countries, even those who currently have legal status, along with limiting the refugee program, threaten those immigrants who are our current and future neighbors, friends, colleagues, customers, and even bosses. Their presence is a crucial ingredient that sets New York City apart and a fundamental reason why we have all chosen to build our careers and companies here.
In addition to all of the humanitarian reasons to welcome refugees, it is dangerous to discourage immigration when the facts show that immigrant entrepreneurs play a significant role in the American economy. Immigrants are more than twice as likely to start a business as the native-born population. Immigrant entrepreneurs started, in whole or in part, some of the most important technology companies of our time including LinkedIn, Tesla Motors, Zipcar, Google, Intel, Yahoo!, eBay, and WhatsApp. More than half of the companies on the current list of U.S. technology startups valued at $1 billion or more were started by immigrants.
We should be doing everything in our power to attract these entrepreneurs to the United States. Yet when we close the door to immigrants from certain countries, not to mention to refugees, we are telling all immigrants that they are not welcome here.
We are confident that we can achieve security without threatening the inclusivity and diversity at the heart of New York City—and the United States. We encourage you to rescind your recent executive orders.
Sincerely,
Tech:NYC
