Several groups representing a wide range of business and professional sectors are imploring President Donald Trump to scale back an executive order barring migrants from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S.

The order launched a wave of protests at airports and cities across the U.S. over the weekend, including a large protest Sunday outside the White House. It prevented refugees from entering the country for at least 120 days and originally barred an estimated 500,000 green card holders from re-entering the U.S., although the administration has since said green card holders can return if they first pass security checks.

Tech companies were among the first in the business community to criticize Trump's decision. Many employ immigrants, with Google alone estimating more than 100 staff would be affected by the new restrictions, according to news reports. Not surprisingly, associations representing those companies were quick to issue statements condemning the order.

"While this order impacts many companies outside of the tech industry, internet companies in particular thrive in the U.S. because the best and the brightest are able to create innovative products and services right here in America," Internet Association CEO Michael Beckerman said.

TechNet CEO Linda Moore said the order "singles out individuals based on their country of origin, without regard to their background and work history."

"We recognize and support efforts to fight terrorism," Moore said. "However, we believe these measures create considerable uncertainty in our nation's immigration system and will adversely impact technology workers who live and work in our nation. Furthermore, TechNet opposes all discrimination, including on the basis of race, religion and country of origin."

Consumer Technology Association CEO Gary Shapiro said that while his group understood the need to fight terrorism, "blocking access en masse of employees of U.S. companies who are lawful visa and green card holders based on religion or national origin raises constitutional issues, hurts our nation—both morally and economically—and runs counter to our country's long-standing values."

The executive order also blocked many scientists, researchers and university students from entering the country. Rush Holt, president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, said the U.S. has always benefited from scientific talent from other nations.

"We know that fostering safe and responsible conduct of research is essential for scientific advancement, national prosperity, and international security," Holt said. "Therefore, the detaining of students and scientists that have already been screened, processed, and approved to receive a visa to visit the United States is contrary to the spirit of science to pursue scholarly and professional interests."

The American Chemical Society issued a statement encouraged the administration to "revisit" the order. At the same time, Association of American Universities Mary Sue Coleman said the order "is already causing damage and should end as quickly as possible."

The ban also drew scrutiny from the U.S. Travel Association, which represents the nation's travel industry. CEO Roger Dow asked the administration to conduct a swift review of security protocols for people entering the country.

"People all over the world want to visit the U.S. and the U.S. travel community strongly supports efforts to ensure that visitors to this country are unimpeachably legitimate," he said. "In doing so, it is imperative we find the right balance between security and facilitation, and we stand ready to support the administration and Congress to achieve this goal."

The American Immigration Lawyers Association issued perhaps the harshest statement in response to the order, saying the administration's actions are "based on the false premise that barring Muslims and refugees from coming to America will make us safer."

"Shuttering our refugee program in a time of great need is the wrong thing to do," AILA President William Stock said. "Rather than slamming the door, we should be welcoming them and offering the protection which America has historically provided as the beacon of light to the world."

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