Business

Starbucks CEO Makes Major Promise In Face Of Immigration Ban

Howard Schultz said "the promise of the American Dream [is] being called into question."

Starbucks CEO Makes Major Promise In Face Of Immigration Ban
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Your morning roast is brewing some political dissent. 

In response to President Donald Trump's recent executive order, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz pledged to hire 10,000 refugees over the next five years. 

Trump's executive order froze all refugee admissions for 120 days. Refugees from Syria have been barred from entering the country indefinitely. 

Though Starbucks does business in roughly 75 countries, Schultz said the focus for refugee hires will start in the U.S. Starbucks does business in 75 countries, but Schultz said focus for refugee hires will start in the U.S. with people who have served as interpreters or support personnel for U.S. troops.

Protests over Trump's immigration ban intensified Friday when two Iraqi refugees were detained at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. One had been an interpreter for the U.S. military, and the other's wife had worked for a U.S. contractor. 

Both were released by Saturday night. 

Beyond the refugee issue, Schultz urged "building bridges, not walls, with Mexico." The company has close to 600 locations in the country, and the CEO promised to support Mexican customers. 

Schultz also doubled down in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) –– a deportation relief program.

In an open letter to employees, Schultz said, "We are living in an unprecedented time, one in which ... the promise of the American Dream [is] being called into question."  

Schultz isn't the only CEO questioning Trump's executive order. CEOs from FacebookApple and Microsoft publicly criticized the measure. 

Countries With Trump Business Interests Spared From Immigration Ban
Countries With Trump Business Interests Spared From Immigration Ban

Countries With Trump Business Interests Spared From Immigration Ban

Middle Eastern countries where Trump has done business weren't included in his refugee and visa ban.

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And Airbnb's CEO pledged to give free housing to refugees. 

But Starbucks' CEO is being credited with one of the strongest responses to the executive order so far.