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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NILC Immigrant Justice Fund Statement Following Ohio Democratic Debate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2019 

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

LOS ANGELES — Following the Democratic presidential debate in Westerville, OH, Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center Immigrant Justice Fund, released the following statement:

“We know that immigration is Trump’s top issue, but tonight we heard nothing about how candidates will address it. Families continue to be separated at our borders and in our backyards, parents are still in fear of being arrested on their way to work or when picking up their kids from school, immigrant youth and longtime residents are living in legal limbo because this administration has taken vital protections away from them, but candidates failed to share their plans.

“The American people are eager for an inspiring vision from candidates about how we’re going to address the real challenges this country faces, and tonight we didn’t get answers on immigration. The candidate who wins this election will be the one who works to put forward an affirmative and inclusive vision for the future of this country that benefits all Americans, including immigrants.”

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