The CEO of Airbnb, Brian Chesky, took to twitter to announce that his company, which enables people to rent short-term lodging, will provide "free housing to refugees and anyone not allowed in the US".
Airbnb is providing free housing to refugees and anyone not allowed in the US. Stayed tuned for more, contact me if urgent need for housing
— Brian Chesky (@bchesky) January 29, 2017
The announcement came just a few days after President Donald Trump declared that he is going to put a four-month hold on refugees in his country. The American leader also temporarily prohibited travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries. According to him, the moves would protect Americans from terrorism.
Chesky is vocal about his disapproval of this policy and said that such rules will create more divide among Americans.
Not allowing countries or refugees into America is not right, and we must stand with those who are affected.
— Brian Chesky (@bchesky) January 29, 2017
Open doors brings all of US together. Closing doors further divides US. Let's all find ways to connect people, not separate them.
— Brian Chesky (@bchesky) January 28, 2017
Not only Chesky, immigration lawyers and advocates reacted furiously to the order and vowed to file lawsuits. For travellers, it was an utter chaos as immigration and customs officials struggled to interpret the new rules.
Also read: 'Muslim ban' sparks US immigration chaos, Trump says plan 'working out nicely'
However, the President seems to be oblivious of his policy's effect. "It's not a Muslim ban...It's working out very nicely. You see it at the airports, you see it all over," said Trump
"We're going to have a very, very strict ban and we're going to have extreme vetting, which we should have had in this country for many years," he added.
