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The luminaries of Silicon Valley may not be known for flexing their political muscle, but leaders like Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates continue to push and prod Congress on one issue near and dear to their hearts (and wallets): comprehensive immigration reform.

This effort appears to be the largest campaign by the idealistic Silicon Valley community on a big national issue and is being led by Joe Green, who co-founded pro-immigration reform advocacy group FWD.us with Facebook (FB) CEO Zuckerberg in 2013

In Silicon Valley, if you dont like the way something works, you go around it. If you dont like the taxi system, you build Uber. But you cant go around Congress. Its Congress, said Green, who said many in the tech world find Washington somewhere between confusing and disgusting.

Silicon Valley is the culture of Why Not? D.C. is the culture of Why? Youre always going up against institutional forces whereas in Silicon Valley youre going around them, he said.

FWD.us is among a diverse coalition of groups urging Congress to act on immigration reform, including the Chamber of Commerce, unions, religious organizations and countless think tanks.

The 501(c)(4) group is promoting a bipartisan policy agenda that includes education reform and supporting scientific research. But the focus right now is squarely on tipping the scales in the heated immigration debate.

Visa Reform Sought

People always ask me why do a bunch of tech guys care about 11 million undocumented immigrants? asked Green.

He pointed to Silicon Valleys idealistic and entrepreneurial roots as well as the industrys location in California, where immigration is a very real issue.

Green grew up in Los Angeles, went to a high school that was 40% Latino and had a friend whose parents were deported.

Link:

Silicon Valley Goes to Washington to Take on Immigration Reform