Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg has taken his backing for US immigration reform public.
The 29-year-old billionaire spoke publicly on the issue for the first time late Monday at the debut of the autobiographical documentary "Documented" by journalist Jose Antonio Vargas in San Francisco.
"This is something that we believe is really important for the future of our country -- and for us to do what's right," the San Francisco Chronicle quoted him telling the audience.
Zuckerberg appeared on stage with former Harvard University roommate Joe Green, who teamed with him to launch advocacy group Fwd.us early this year to lobby for immigration and education reform along with support for scientific research.
Zuckerberg and Green sponsored the film debut event with immigrant rights group Define American, which was founded by Vargas.
The theater audience was reported to include influential politicians and Silicon Valley figures along with the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and local workers and students brought into the US illegally as children.
"No matter where they were born, they 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."