Apple CEO Tim Cook urges Trump to show more compassion on immigration

Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly urged President Trump to show more compassion on immigration issues while attending a tech meeting at the White House on Monday.

Cook brought up the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, a controversial Obama-era program that allows children brought to the country illegally to stay in the U.S., according to The New York Times’s Maggie Haberman. 

NEWS – Tim Cook told POTUS that the administration needed to show more heart on immigration issues, mentioned DACA, at tech CEO meeting 1/

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 20, 2017

2/ Cook said tech employees are nervous and while they don’t think the administration’s intent is to make them feel targeted, they need …

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 20, 2017

Cook has vocally spoken out about the economic value and merits immigrants add to the American economy, contrasting largely with Trump and some of his senior adviser’s views that immigrants are stealing jobs from Americans and hurting the U.S. economy. 

Trump voiced support for “comprehensive” immigration reform, according to Haberman.

3/ a clear signal. POTUS replied that what’s needed is “comprehensive” immigration reform. No comment from Apple or White House so far.

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 20, 2017

While it is unclear what the president meant, Haberman pointed out that this is the second time Trump has left someone feeling like he will pursue a policy similar to one pushed by Jeb Bush, a former GOP presidential rival.  

4/ But this is second time in five mos that POTUS has left someone with impression in closed mtg that he favored the type of bill Jeb backed

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 20, 2017

CEOs and business experts attended meetings at the White House as part of “technology week” in an effort to modernize the government’s information technology systems.