--- title: Koch Brothers Join Critics of Trump's Immigration Order description: The powerful groups organized under the billionaire brothers are joining the opposition against President Trump's ban on refugees canonical: https://time.com/4652905/koch-brothers-donald-trump-immigration-ban-order/ author: Philip Elliott article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-01-29T19:58:35.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-23T03:00:51.261Z article:section: Politics og:title: Koch Brothers Oppose Trump's Immigration Ban og:description: Criticism from major conservative donors og:url: https://time.com/4652905/koch-brothers-donald-trump-immigration-ban-order/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0afac28f7393f581/6988a086bc6cfc708b3de116/gettyimages-539780022.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: na-koch og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Koch Brothers Oppose Trump's Immigration Ban twitter:description: Criticism from major conservative donors twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0afac28f7393f581/6988a086bc6cfc708b3de116/gettyimages-539780022.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The Koch Brothers Oppose President Trump's Immigration Ban  by [Philip Elliott / Indian Wells, Calif.](https://time.com/author/philip-elliott/)  ## Philip Elliott / Indian Wells, Calif. Senior Correspondent Jan 29, 2017 7:58 PM UTC  Charles Koch speaks during an interview with the Washington Post at the Freedom Partners Summit on Monday, August 3, 2015, in Dana Point, Calif. Charles Koch speaks during an interview with the Washington Post at the Freedom Partners Summit on Monday, August 3, 2015, in Dana Point, Calif.Patrick T. Fallon—The Washington Post/Getty Images  by [Philip Elliott / Indian Wells, Calif.](https://time.com/author/philip-elliott/)  ## Philip Elliott / Indian Wells, Calif. Senior Correspondent Jan 29, 2017 7:58 PM UTC The powerful policy and politics network organized by the billionaire Koch brothers made official what many had expected: an opposition to [President Trump’s ban on visitors](http://time.com/4652877/donald-trump-immigration-ban-muslim/) from seven countries with Muslim majorities. In a statement provided to reporters covering the Kochs’ twice-a-year retreat, top official Brian Hooks said Sunday that the groups under his umbrella would not support Trump’s move, which has drawn thousands of [protesters](http://time.com/4652877/donald-trump-immigration-ban-muslim/?xid=homepage) against the ban on immigrants and refugees. “We believe it is possible to keep Americans safe without excluding people who wish to come here to contribute and pursue a better life for their families. The travel ban is the wrong approach and will likely be counterproductive,” said Hooks, the co-chairman of the Koch network. “Our country has benefited tremendously from a history of welcoming people from all cultures and backgrounds. This is a hallmark of free and open societies.” It was merely [the latest sign](http://time.com/4652743/donald-trump-koch-brothers-400-million/) that Trump will not have yes-men in the Koch camp, which runs some of the most sophisticated conservative organizations in the country. Trump and the Koch network already had a tense relationship, and it appears that the groups will continue to operate as an opposition party much the way they did under Presidents from both parties. (Charles and David Koch ramped up their political activity under Republican President George W. Bush because they saw spending speeding out of control.) The Koch network operates groups such as the grassroots focused Americans for Prosperity, the data-centered i360 and Latino-eyeing Libre Initiative. Together, they spent roughly $250 million on last year’s elections — while sitting out the White House race. Over the next two years, they plan to spend as much as $400 million. Sunday’s statement offered a reminder that these hefty donors will not defer to the Republican Party. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4652905/koch-brothers-donald-trump-immigration-ban-order/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4652905/koch-brothers-donald-trump-immigration-ban-order/"},"headline":"The Koch Brothers Oppose President Trump's Immigration Ban","datePublished":"2017-01-29T19:58:35.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T03:00:51.261Z","description":"A sign that Trump faces troubles from all corners","url":"https://time.com/4652905/koch-brothers-donald-trump-immigration-ban-order/","keywords":["Donald Trump","republicans","Immigration","Koch Brothers"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0afac28f7393f581/6988a086bc6cfc708b3de116/gettyimages-539780022.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Philip Elliott / Indian Wells, Calif."}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0afac28f7393f581/6988a086bc6cfc708b3de116/gettyimages-539780022.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"na-koch","caption":"Charles Koch","creditText":"Patrick T. 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