Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg spoke publicly for the first time on an issue he has been working on privately for months -- immigration reform.
Zuckerberg on Monday night helped introduce a film titled "Documented" and told a crowd of hundreds at the film screening it is time to fix the broken system.
"Someone did a study and it showed half of tech companies are founded by immigrants," he said. "These are issues that don’t just touch our industry, but really touch the whole country."
The tech giant also said he was frustrated with immigration issues related to work visas. But it was school kids who inspired him to act.
"I asked the kids what they were worried about. One raised his hands and said I’m not sure I can go to college because I’m undocumented, it touched me," he said.
Zuckerberg formed FWD.US with friends and fellow tech leaders. Big names are joining the effort to pressure members of Congress to make comprehensive reforms.
Bay Area immigration lawyer Lourdes Martinez calls it a natural partnership.
"I think it's valuable, something we’ve been talking about for many years," Martinez said. "How to bring in (the) business sector to support reform because immigrants are part of the economy."
View more in Jean Elle's video report above.
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