Uber customers around the world have started to delete the app and post the evidence to social media, in the wake of Trump's #MuslimBan.

Yesterday, protests erupted outside the New York City airport following President Trump's shocking executive order on immigration, barring people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US.

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As a result, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance – a largely-immigrant Muslim union – halted taxi services to and from the airport to show support and solidarity to those affected by, or even stranded and facing deportation, thanks to Trump's ban.

In a post to Facebook, the 19,000 member unions wrote:

'As an organization whose membership is largely Muslim, a workforce that's almost universally immigrant, and a working-class movement that is rooted in the defense of the oppressed, we say no to this inhuman and unconstitutional band.

'We stand in solidarity with all of our peace-loving neighbours against this inhumane, cruel, and unconstitutional act of pure bigotry,' it added.

However, rather than facilitate and support the protests, Uber - many of whose drivers are Muslim and could be affected by the ban - decided it would seize the opportunity of reduced travel services going in and out of the airport to its own advantage and tweeted it had turned off its surge pricing, which is normally triggered during periods of increased demand.

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In response, infuriated protestors and users of the app have accused the service of taking advantage of the protests and are now deleting their Uber accounts – and not just the app itself – using the Twitter hashtag #deleteUber to show their indignation.

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In an email to Business Insider, Uber apologised for the insensitive tweet.

It read: 'We're sorry for any confusion about our earlier tweet — it was not meant to break up any strike.

'We wanted people to know they could use Uber to get to and from JFK at normal prices, especially last night,' it added.

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Later last night, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick published an email he'd sent to Uber employees to Facebook, detailing the company's reaction to Trump's immigration ban.

In the email, he explains many of the company's drivers will be affected by the ban and, as a result, won't be able to return to their home countries to see their families.

Therefore, Kalanick says Uber will work out a process 'to identify these drivers and compensate them pro bono during the next three months to help mitigate some of the financial stress and complications with supporting their families and putting food on the table'.

'While every government has their own immigration controls, allowing people from all around the world to come here and make America their home has largely been the U.S.'s policy since its founding. That means this ban will impact many innocent people—an issue that I will raise this coming Friday when I go to Washington for President Trump's first business advisory group meeting,' he added.

While no one can deny Kalanick and Uber's commitment to compensate its drivers abroad is the honorable thing to do during this time of uncertainty, it sadly follows years of concern over the company's reliance of the immigrant workforce and dominance over the taxi and inner-city transportation network.

For those wanting to delete their Uber accounts, you can do so here.

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Katie O'Malley
Site Director

Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.