NILC Immigrant Justice Fund Statement Following Washington, DC, Debate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2019

CONTACT
Victoria Ballesteros, (562) 644-1339, ballesteros@nilc-ijf.org

NILC Immigrant Justice Fund Statement Following Washington, DC, Debate

WASHINGTON, DC — Following this evening’s Democratic presidential debate in Washington, DC, Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund, released the following statement:

“In the midst of these uncertain and dangerous times for our global community, the choice we have in the upcoming November elections has never been clearer. President Trump’s policies have torn apart families, destroyed communities, and undermined public health and safety. His desire to scapegoat immigrants instead of taking responsibility for his incompetence and failures as president underscore why our country must replace him in November.

“Tonight, Vice President Biden and Senator Sanders provided long-overdue insight into their more inclusive vision for immigrants in America, from restoring Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and putting undocumented immigrants on a road to U.S. citizenship to ensuring that everyone in this country — regardless of where we were born or how much money we have — has access to the health care we need.

“We appreciate the candidates’ commitment to protecting the rights of immigrants, ensuring that no one has to fear ICE raiding their workplace or home or detaining them when they seek health care — as well as the candidates’ commitment to restoring our country as a place that welcomes aspiring Americans. We hope that in the future, candidates will emphasize how their immigration policies will be informed by lessons learned as a result of failures in our criminal justice system.

“Every day, all Americans, including immigrants, suffer the consequences of President Trump’s failed presidency. His inability to lead on the present global health crisis, coupled with his recklessly slow response to the COVID-19 pandemic and refusal to take responsibility, has endangered the lives of everyone in our country.

“Trump’s inability to guarantee that everyone can afford the care they need has forced low- and middle-income families to make impossible choices between staying safe and paying the bills. And his hateful treatment of immigrants — from imposing a racially motivated wealth test to scapegoating immigrant families — is a coverup for policies that give tax cuts to the rich and put the livelihoods of working people at risk.”

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NILC Immigrant Justice Fund Responds to Pete Buttigieg’s Immigration Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 22, 2019

CONTACT
Alex Gilliland, gilliland@nilc-ijf.org, 650-823-4575

LOS ANGELES — In response to the release of Pete Buttigieg’s immigration plan, Avideh Moussavian, Legislative Director of the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund, released the following statement.

“As the son of an immigrant, Mayor Buttigieg knows well how central immigrants have always been in moving America forward, so we appreciate that his immigration plan shows a commitment to more inclusive opportunities for immigrants to fully thrive in their communities. Policies like eliminating the five-year waiting period for green card holders to access health insurance or food assistance, expanding Pell grants for DACA recipients, and extending workplace protections will make a major difference in the lives of many immigrants. Similarly, his plan would redress some long-standing injustices in our immigration laws by narrowing the crimes or offenses that would make someone deportable and committing to ensure no one has to face potential deportation without the right to legal counsel.

“Overall this is a strong plan, with an emphasis on humanitarian support to immigrant families. However, it could be strengthened by explicitly outlining how he would undo the Trump administration’s public charge regulation, which could have the widest and longest impact of any policy yet. As many as 26 million people could be impacted and any presidential candidate must vow to repeal it upon taking office. 

“Furthermore, it is disappointing that the plan does not lay out more detailed and robust accountability measures for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). We have seen unprecedented numbers of people dying in detention or being subjected to inhumane conditions under ICE and CBP,  and the rampant abuse of executive authority that has funded the abusive practices at these agencies. It’s simply not enough to return to pre-Trump enforcement priorities while these agencies continue to amass more resources to harm our communities. Our next president must take deliberate steps toward reforms that ensure our government treats aspiring Americans in alignment with our values.”

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NILC Immigrant Justice Fund Statement Following Los Angeles Debate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2019 

CONTACT
Alex Gilliland, gilliland@nilc-ijf.org, 650-823-4575

LOS ANGELES — Following the Democratic presidential debate in Los Angeles, Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund, released the following statement:

“With the debate taking place tonight in California, home to a quarter of the country’s immigrants, candidates could have embraced the role immigrants play in our communities, our economy, and our country, but they once again fell short in making a case for the value of immigrants to our country’s future. Beyond briefly addressing family separation at our border, we heard far too little about the candidates’ affirmative vision for immigrants to fully thrive in our communities, or for a more humane, functional, and just immigration system.

“At a time when candidates are making impassioned pleas for bold action on climate change, on wealth inequality, and on health care, voters need to hear the same when it comes to giving immigrants the opportunity to thrive and fulfill their full potential in the country they call home.”

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NILC Immigrant Justice Fund Responds to Joe Biden’s Immigration Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2019

CONTACT
Alex Gilliland, gilliland@nilc-ijf.org, 650-823-4575

LOS ANGELES — In response to the release of Vice President Joe Biden’s immigration plan, Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund, released the following statement.

“Vice President Biden’s immigration plan includes some notable measures to improve our immigration system. By vowing to end workplace raids and by outlining stronger support for farmworkers and domestic workers and stronger protections against worker exploitation, Vice President Biden has indicated that he understands the vulnerability of immigrants in the workplace and that their rights must be protected.

“Standing up for workers is important, but the next administration must also go further to fully address the harmful role that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have played in our communities — subjecting immigrants to constant fear due to the agencies’ aggressive and often unlawful practices. For years, ICE and CBP have wasted billions in taxpayer dollars to inflict punishment, pain, and fear on immigrant communities and to criminalize people who came to the U.S. to pursue a brighter future. A Biden administration must go further than this plan to truly change the agency’s corrupt and abusive practices. We’re long overdue in addressing the deep-seated injustice and inhumanity of our immigration laws and policies. 

“Vice President Biden is right — we need an immigration policy that reflects our highest values. Our current system isn’t living up to that, and we need an immigration plan that boldly addresses these gaps, to ensure that all people, regardless of where they were born, can thrive here.”

NILC Immigrant Justice Fund Statement Following Atlanta Debate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2019

CONTACT
Alex Gilliland, gilliland@nilc-ijf.org, 650-823-4575

LOS ANGELES — Following the Democratic presidential debate in Atlanta, GA, Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund, released the following statement:

“American voters are hungry for bold ideas to address the dysfunctional and harmful status quo when it comes to health care, climate change, income inequality, and immigration. But once again, we heard no bold vision about immigration. Asking one question about Trump’s border wall plays into his racist attacks and fails to even scratch the surface of the issue or address the needs of the over 40 million immigrants living, working, and contributing to our country.

“As we watch Trump weaponize race, immigration, and class in an attempt to change who we are as a country, candidates must speak up against fear-mongering and clearly articulate a vision for this country that includes immigrants.

“The beacon of hope this country has provided is based on the idea that no matter where you were born or how much money you have, there is room for you — and your neighbors — to thrive. It’s this ideal that has brought immigrants to our country for centuries, but that ideal is rapidly eroding because of this administration’s desire to deter people from coming here and punish them for remaining. Candidates must effectively articulate a more inclusive vision for who we are as a country and who we aspire to be, and unfortunately they missed that opportunity tonight.”

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