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Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Donates $33 Million To Fund For Undocumented US Students

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Donates $33 Million To Fund For Undocumented US Students

It follows worldwide condemnation of President Trump reportedly describing African and Caribbean countries as a 's**thole'

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Jeff Bezos has delivered the biggest 'fuck you' to US President Donald Trump, following the leader's reported comments about immigrants from 'shithole' countries in Africa and the Caribbean. Being the world's wealthiest man, the Amazon Chief Executive has done an extraordinary thing with his spare cash.

Bezos has donated a whopping $33 million (£24 million) to a scholarship set up for undocumented students in the US. Officially, those people are in America under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) - the policy which has caused Trump and the White House a minor headache this week.

PA

During a bipartisan meeting, Trump allegedly questioned why the US was still accepting immigrants from 'shithole' countries - a remark that has drawn criticism around the world, with the UN labelling it 'racist', 'shocking' and 'shameful'.

While the political debate between Democrats and Republicans about DACA is likely to wage for a while, Bezos hopes to ensure these people have a future in the US.

In a statement, the Amazon chief said: "My dad came to the U.S. when he was 16 as part of Operation Pedro Pan.

"He landed in this country alone and unable to speak English. With a lot of grit and determination - and the help of some remarkable organizations in Delaware - my dad became an outstanding citizen, and he continues to give back to the country that he feels blessed him in so many ways.

PA

"MacKenzie and I are honored to be able to help today's Dreamers by funding these scholarships."

Also called DREAMers, each student who manages to get the scholarship receives $33,000 (£24,040) over four years to help pay for their tuition, fees and books.

Nearly 3,000 students have benefitted from the program, which is set up across more than 70 low-cost colleges in 15 states.

President of TheDream.US Candy Marshall says: "Everyone who believes in education and is a friend of the Dreamers would like to thank Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos for this magnificent gift.


People protesting outside the White House in September over DACA policy.
PA

"It is a shot in the arm for Dreamer students at a time when some are questioning whether they should be in the United States at all."

Last June, Bezos asked his more than 400,000 followers what he should spend his enormous wealth on, saying he wanted to be 'helping people in the here and now'.

He had a bunch of people comment on the post with different ideas, from fixing the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, to helping the hungry, to stopping advertising on Breitbart webpage.

Clearly he's decided that giving undocumented students the best possible start in life is the way forward.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: World News, News, jeff bezos, US News, Donald Trump, Amazon, Trump