Why these 8 CEOs are standing up for 'dreamers'

The White House is ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protects undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation.

To qualify for the program, individuals must register with the government, pass multiple background checks and pay taxes.

Over 97 percent of the 800,000 "dreamers" who qualify for the program are in school or the workforce. Many serve in the armed forces.

The decision has been met with sharp criticism by business leaders like Javier Palomarez, CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Palomarez resigned from Trump's Diversity Coalition saying, "As a nation of immigrants, we have a moral responsibility to support and defend 'Dreamers,' who arrived to this country — at the average age of six — through no fault of their own. These individuals have already become dynamic contributors to our American economy and play an important role in our communities."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce stated that the decision is "contrary to fundamental American principles and the best interests of our country."

This policy was not only moral, the group argues, but beneficial to the American economy. "With approximately 700,000 DACA recipients working for all sorts of businesses across the country, terminating their employment eligibility runs contrary to the president's goal of growing the U.S. economy."

Over 400 CEOs, founders and business leaders have signed a letter drafted by immigration advocacy group FWD.us urging Trump to preserve the DACA Program. People like Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook, Warren Buffett and Jack Dorsey as well as the CEOs of AT&T, Best Buy and Wells Fargo agreed that "dreamers are vital to the future of our companies and our economy. With them, we grow and create jobs. They are part of why we will continue to have a global competitive advantage."

Here's what eight CEOs have said about Tuesday's announcement by the Trump administration:

Read Zuckerberg's full post here.

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