NEW YORK  (TIP): US tech giants, including Apple, Google and Microsoft, have pledged to stand by their employees after the Trump administration scrapped an amnesty program that granted work permits to immigrants who arrived in the country illegally as children.

US President Donald Trump, on September 5, scrapped an Obama-era program known as Deferred Action for Children Arrival (DACA), a move likely to impact 8,00,000 undocumented workers including more than 7,000 Indian-Americans.

Microsoft and Apple are offering the most full-throated defense of “Dreamers” — undocumented individuals who have been in the US since they were young and registered with the federal government to get work permits.

Apple CEO Tim Cook condemned the Trump administration’s decision and pledged in a note to employees to offer any employees affected by the change the “support they need, including the advice of immigration experts.” Apple will “fight” for its Dreamers, Cook tweeted. “#Dreamers contribute to our companies and our communities just as much as you and I. Apple will fight for them to be treated as equals,” he tweeted.

“You’re going to have to go through us to deport Dreamers who work here,” Microsoft said, adding it will stick by its employees affected by any change to DACA, even in court. — PTI

New York to file lawsuit protecting beneficiaries

 US President Donald Trump’s decision to end benefits for children brought into the US illegally faces a legal challenge from New York and other states. New York Attorney General Eric T Schneiderman will announce a multi-state lawsuit to protect beneficiaries of DACA program.

Schneiderman and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo have promised to challenge any decision by Trump to end DACA. Cuomo said the move would affect roughly 42,000 New Yorkers, upending their lives and ripping families apart.