After spending months working behind the scenes to promote legislation for immigration reform Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg spoke publicly about the issue for the first time at the premiere of a documentary called "Documented," according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
"This is something that we believe is really important for the future of our country - and for us to do what's right," Zuckerberg said.
The film tells the story of young immigrants who came to the country illegally along with their parents at a very young age. A diverse crowd ranging from executives from the tech industry and politicians, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to construction workers and students watch the film by Jose Antonia Vargas, according to ABC News.
"You hear so much about immigration and it's not about the U.S. - Mexico border," Vargas said. "It's not about defense. It's not about Republican or Democrat. It's actually about families and the fact that families are separated."
The premiere sponsored by Facebook along with Define American, an immigrant rights group founded by the filmmaker, was the first public opportunity for Zuckerberg to speak out about immigration reform. Fwd.us was created by Zuckerberg and his former roommate Joe Green to advocate for a pathway for citizenship for illegal aliens currently within the United States and was met with some skepticism when it first was formed, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Vivek Wadhwa, author of "The Immigrant Exodus: Why America is Losing the Global Race to Capture Entrepreneurial Talent," felt that moves made by Fwd.us including buying ads supporting gun rights and the Keystone XL pipeline in an effort to woo conservatives were misguided. Wadhwa told the San Francisco Chronicle that it appeared as if they were only interested in immigration because of Facebook's need for skilled immigrants.
"Now they've broadened the focus. They're doing something unselfish," Wadhwa said. Zuckerberg understands that "you will win people over in their hearts. Buying politicians is the wrong way to do it."
Zuckerberg told the crowd that the issue of undocumented immigrants gained personal significance for him when he was volunteering at a school in Menlo Park and a student told him that he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to attend college since he was undocumented.
"No matter where they were born, (these students) are going to be tomorrow's entrepreneurs and people creating jobs in this country," Zuckerberg said. "These are issues that don't just touch our part of the industry, but really touch a whole country."
