Organizers of the annual Game Developers Conference have issued a response to the 90-day travel ban imposed by President Trump, stating they plan to reimburse those attendees affected by the controversial executive order.
Last week, the POTUS ordered a temporary ban to anyone attempting to enter the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It’s a move that has sparked widespread protest across the globe, and the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has issued a statement urging the White House to “exercise caution with regard to vital immigration and foreign worker programs.”
GDC is a global community – we're horrified by the #MuslimBan. Of course we'll refund affected attendees, and keep fighting for inclusivity.
— @ GDC (March 20-24) (@Official_GDC) January 29, 2017
Our statement on the new travel policy issued this weekend: https://t.co/E3hqtqOq6d pic.twitter.com/EC1XsMWc3Q
— ESA Gov Affairs (@ESAGovAffairs) January 30, 2017
In closing, executive director Kate Edwards added:
“The issue isn’t necessarily the affect on these specific countries but on the general spread of xenophobia in the U.S. government and how it will certainly affect the U.S.’s ability to hire talent and remain globally competitive.”
GDC 2017 begins on February 27 and continues through until Friday, March 3.
[Sources: Games Industry, GDC, ESA]
