Microsoft is asking U.S. officials to grant an exception for law-abiding, visa-holding workers and students from President Donald Trump's immigration order.

"Those individuals are low-risk and face immediate hardship as a result of last week's order," Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a letter Thursday to the secretaries of State and Homeland Security.

"We believe such an exception under the existing framework of the Executive Order would help address compelling personal needs without compromising the Executive Order's security-related objectives," Smith wrote in the letter.

Microsoft has 76 employees who, together with their 41 dependents, have nonimmigrant visas to live and work in the United States and are impacted by the Executive Order.