After Mark Zuckerberg, Google's Sundar Pichai slams Trump's immigration order

Google's India-born CEO Sundar Pichai today criticised President Donald Trump's controversial immigration order targeting people from seven Muslim-majority countries, saying it will create "barriers" to bringing great talent to the US, as the Internet search giant ordered its travelling staff to return to America.

Pichai in an email to staff said the US ban on foreign nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries will hit at least 187 Google employees.

'PAINFUL' TO SEE EFFECT OF ORDER

"We're upset about the impact of this order and any proposals that could impose restrictions on Googlers and their families, or that could create barriers to bringing great talent to the US," the Wall Street Journal quoted Pichai as saying in the email.

"It is painful to see the personal cost of this executive order on our colleagues," he said.

Google has recalled around 100 of its affected staff from overseas, the BBC reported.

Also read: Rights groups slam Donald Trump's plans on Muslim immigrants, refugees

TRUMP BARS ENTRY OF SYRIAN REFUGEES

President Trump has ordered "extreme vetting" of people entering the US from seven Muslim-majority countries and banned the entry of Syrian refugees until further notice, as part of new measures to "keep radical Islamic terrorists" out of America. The countries impacted are Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia.

The controversial move, signed a week after he was sworn-in as the president of the US, fulfills the vow Trump made on the campaign trail to limit Muslim immigration to the US.

In his message to employees, 44-year-old Pichai, who grew up in India, suggested that at least 187 employees hailed from countries included in the ban.

"Our first order of business is to help Googlers who are affected," he said. "If youre abroad and need help please reach out to our global security team."

"We wouldn't wish this fear and uncertainty on anyone and especially not our fellow Googlers," Pichai wrote. "In times of uncertainty, our values remain the best guide."

MICROSOFT, FACEBOOK ALSO EXPRESS CAUTION

Immigrants make up much of the workforce in Silicon Valley, including many executive roles, and the tech industry has long advocated for more open immigration laws in the US, saying they need more skilled foreigners to fill technical jobs.

Microsoft has also warned its shareholders that curbs on immigration could have a material impact on its business.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also criticised Trumps decision to severely limit immigrants and refugees from certain Muslim-majority countries, saying America is a nation of immigrants and should be proud of it.

"Like many of you, I'm concerned about the impact of the recent executive orders signed by President Trump," Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page.

Also read: Mark Zuckerberg challenges Trump as ban on Muslims goes live in US

Watch video: Google CEO Sundar Pichai criticises Trump's immigration orders