House Speaker Paul Ryan said Friday it would not be right for President Donald Trump to get rid of the DACA program, which allows people who illegally came to the United States as children to stay in the country.

"This is something that Congress has to fix," he said, just hours before Trump told reporters he would reveal his decision by the weekend.

Other leading Republicans also have urged Trump not to scrap the immigration measure that will affect an estimated 800,000 people.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, also said he had lobbied the president not to rescind the program. Hatch said in a statement that Congress must provide “a workable, permanent solution for individuals who entered the country unlawfully as children through no fault of their own and who have built their lives here.”

Meanwhile, a growing number of Republicans from diverse districts are bracing for fallout from an end to DACA. Business leaders from major companies including Apple, Microsoft, Facebook and Google have also publicly urged Trump not to end the program, citing fears over the havoc it would cause.

Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo, who represents a Denver swing district, said Thursday that if Trump ends DACA he would turn to a “conservative Dream Act” as a fail-safe.

Several other Republicans in diverse swing districts — Reps. David Valadao, R-Calif., Jeff Denham, R-Calif., Will Hurd, R-Tex., Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., and retiring Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla. — have said they would support seeking protections for DACA recipients.

Ryan spoke with WCLO Radio and was asked about reports that say Trump may be preparing to put an end to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that began with a 2012 executive order by former President Barack Obama.

"I don't think we should [get rid of DACA]," Ryan said. "I believe this is something that Congress has to fix."

Ryan then argued that Obama did not possess the "legislative authority" to sign the DACA order as president, but the policy does carry with it a humanitarian angle.

"These are kids who were brought here by their parents and don't know another home. So I really do believe that there needs to be a legislative solution, that's one that we're working on," Ryan said.

"I think we want to give people peace of mind. I've had plenty of conversations with the White House about this issue. And I think the president as well, he wants to have a humane solution to this problem."

Trump has spoken multiple times about his desire to end DACA as he tries to crack down on illegal immigration. Democrats and even some Republicans, however, have cautioned him that DACA presents a different problem than simply illegal aliens residing in the U.S.

Coffman announced plans Thursday to help keep the 800,000 or so people who have benefited from the program to stay here.

"DACA participants grew up here, went to school here, and should be allowed to stay here," Coffman said. "The time has come to take action."

The White House has yet to confirm reports that Trump will end the program. Vice President Mike Pence was asked about it Thursday during a visit to flood-stricken areas in Texas.

"President Trump has said all along that he's giving very careful consideration to that issue and that when he makes his decision he'll make it, as he likes to say, with big heart," Pence said. "And I know that he will."

Trump said Friday afternoon that he would reveal his decision by the end of the long holiday weekend.

"We love the Dreamers. We love everybody," Trump said.

A new report claimed that ending DACA could put 700,000 jobs in jeopardy. The study claimed that 91 percent of DACA recipients are employed.

The University of Miami is slated to offer DACA recipients a free education starting in the fall 2018 semester.

During Friday's interview, Ryan also was asked about Hurricane Harvey relief as thousands of homes are still underwater in southeast Texas.

"This is unprecedented," Ryan said. "We're right now working with OMB, the Office of Management and Budget, to make sure that the FEMA … disaster relief fund is funded."

Ryan added that the House is putting together legislation that would address the aforementioned FEMA fund long term so that benefits can be paid out to people who need them.