Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg cuts off pro-immigration group he founded in retreat from advocacy

Mark Zuckerberg has formally cut ties with the pro-immigration group he helped launch more than a decade ago as his philanthropy retreats from political advocacy and narrows its focus to science amid President Donald Trump’s return to power.The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the philanthropy founded by Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, ended its relationship with FWD.us earlier this year, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News.The split leaves the immigration and criminal justice reform group without funding from Zuckerberg, Chan or CZI for the first time since its founding in 2013.FWD.us received no funding from Zuckerberg, Chan or CZI in 2025, according to Bloomberg News.Jordan Fox, CZI’s chief of staff, also stepped down from FWD.us’ board earlier this year, leaving the group without any active representative from Zuckerberg’s philanthropy for the first time in its history.The separation became formal in April, when FWD.us removed CZI from its internal bylaws, according to a tax filing with the Internal Revenue Service seen by Bloomberg News.The move closes a chapter for Zuckerberg, who for years positioned himself as a leading corporate voice in favor of immigration reform, especially policies benefiting immigrants working in technology.It also comes as Zuckerberg has made sweeping changes across both Meta Platforms Inc.and his philanthropic empire following Trump’s re-election.Earlier this year, Zuckerberg dismantled diversity programs at Meta and oversaw changes to the company’s hate speech policies that now allow exclusionary and “insulting language” in the context of immigration.His philanthropy has also been winding down social advocacy funding and eliminating its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) team.A CZI spokesperson said the organization has been engaged in a years-long transition away from political and social advocacy, narrowing its mission to science and biomedical research.A network of research centers known as ...