Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force on Immigration Releases Policy Recommendations; Pathway to Citizenship, Family Reunification, Enforcement Reform Among Key Recommendations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2020

CONTACT
Tenoch Flores, tenoch.flores@outlook.com

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, July 8, the Biden for President campaign unveiled the results of the six Unity Task Forces set up, including immigration. Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center Immigrant Justice Fund, issued the following statement:

“It has been an honor to serve as co-chair of the Unity Task Force on immigration and champion the voices of immigrants in America. I want to thank Vice President Biden as well as the Sanders campaign for the opportunity to serve and for their commitment to a collaborative and unifying process ensuring that immigrant voices are included and heard. The Task Force outlines a pro-immigrant vision for America that celebrates the role and contributions that immigrants play in our country, reunites families and protects the rights of all workers.

“The recommendations provide a clear path for ensuring America’s recovery from this pandemic includes immigrants, undoing the harms of the Trump Administration, and enacting a 21st century immigration policy that strengthens our communities and ensures America is once again a beacon of hope around the world.

“As the Task Force draws to a close, we emerge more hopeful and even more committed to the work of electing Joe Biden president. For immigrants, the stakes in this election are life and death and we will work to secure a vision for a country in which immigrants, and their contributions, are recognized, respected and celebrated.” The Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force recommendations can be found here.

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NILC Immigrant Justice Fund Welcomes New Board Member

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
May 5, 2020 

CONTACT 
Juan Gastelum, gastelum@nilc-ijf.org, 213-375-3149 

WASHINGTON — The NILC Immigrant Justice Fund (IJF) announced today the addition of a new member, John Bisognano, to its board of directors.  

“The NILC Immigrant Justice Fund board is instrumental in setting the organization’s strategic direction, and John’s contributions will help propel our ongoing work to build political leadership that reflects our organization’s values-based approach and makes a real difference for immigrant communities and our country,” said Marielena Hincapié, executive director of NILC IJF. “Now more than ever, the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund is needed to defend and advance the rights of immigrants and ensure that our communities can thrive. John brings crucial experience and talents to our board, and I’m eager to work with him.” 

 “The NILC Immigrant Justice Fund is at the frontlines fighting for immigrants at a time when the president has made scapegoating new and aspiring Americans the centerpiece of his divisive reelection strategy,” Bisognano said. “While Trump divides us all by race, class, and birthplace to cover up for his failure to lead the country through this crisis, IJF is leading the way to hold him to account and stand up for the very people who, as essential workers, are keeping our country strong. There has never been a more important time for IJF’s hopeful, strategic, and forward-thinking leadership in the progressive movement, and I’m honored to play a role to support them.” 

John Bisognano serves as executive director of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC) and affiliates, organizations founded by President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder in 2017. The NDRC operates as the centralized hub for executing a comprehensive redistricting strategy that shifts the redistricting power back to voters, creating fair districts where Democrats can compete. Before serving as the executive director, John served as the director of campaigns for the 2018 midterm cycle, helping net historic wins for down-ballot Democrats and ballot initiatives across the country. John joined the NDRC team as a veteran of the Obama White House and three presidential campaigns.   

As White House associate director of public engagement, John served as the public liaison to the progressive, labor, and national security communities. In this role, he organized national coalitions around issues such as raising the minimum wage, responding to the Syrian refugee crisis, securing the Iran Deal, and countering violent extremism. During the 2016 election cycle, John ran the successful statewide coordinated campaign in New Hampshire for Secretary Hillary Clinton, Senator Maggie Hassan, and the full Democratic slate.    

Before he was inspired to get into politics by the presidential campaign of then–Senator Obama, John worked in baseball as the visiting clubhouse manager for the Pawtucket Red Sox. John earned a BA and MBA from Providence College and is a native of Milton, Massachusetts.    

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NILC Immigrant Justice Fund Responds to Trump’s New Immigration Ban

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2020

CONTACT
Juan Gastelum, gastelum@nilc-ijf.org, 213-375-3149

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday night, Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily suspending immigration into the U.S.

Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center Immigrant Justice Fund, issued the following statement:

“Trump’s immigration ban is another attempt to divide us by race and birthplace and distract us from his failure to lead the country during this pandemic. Medical experts and scientists warned us about COVID-19 for months as Trump wasted time, rejected expert advice, and declared there was nothing to worry about. Tens of thousands of Americans are mourning lost loved ones, anxious about the uncertainty we are all facing as our economy continues to free fall, and we lead the world in deaths and lost jobs. Yet all Trump can do is blame others for his own failures and play divisive political games. We will only get through this crisis together. 

“Trump’s latest xenophobic political play is only the latest reminder of why the stakes are so high this November. We need a president who takes responsibility, listens to experts, and unites people of every race, class, and country of birth. We need a president who can ensure all Americans, including immigrants, can be safe, and have the health care and economic relief we need to get through this crisis.”

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NILC Immigrant Justice Fund Statement on Trump Immigration Executive Order

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2020

CONTACT
Hayley Burgess, 202-805-0375, burgess@nilc-ijf.org

WASHINGTON, DC — On Monday, April 20, President Trump announced that he would be signing an executive order to ban all immigration to the United States. Details of the executive order have not been released. Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund, released the following statement:

“Donald Trump’s latest executive order would be his latest attempt to place blame on immigrants as a tactic to distract from his failures as president. We are in a national public health and economic crisis that requires leadership and action to support the tens of millions of Americans who have lost their jobs and the families of the tens of thousands of Americans who have died. States are competing against each other for vital resources, including tests and hospital supplies, and communities are struggling to meet unprecedented needs.

“Millions of immigrants are risking their lives every day doing essential jobs to keep us all healthy and safe, from health care work to food production and distribution. If the COVID-19 public health crisis has taught us anything, it’s that we are all in this together. The virus does not discriminate based on race, age, or immigration status, nor is it blocked by man-made borders or immigrant bans. 

“We don’t need more fearmongering and xenophobic scapegoating. Let us not be distracted from the real work before us: We need to ensure that everyone — regardless of their birthplace —  has access to the testing, health care, and economic relief they need. We will get through this catastrophe only if we come together to take care of everyone in our communities and cooperate globally to find a vaccine as soon as possible. 

“Trump’s latest executive order targeting immigrants makes clear why he is incapable of leading this country at this critical moment in our history — and also why we can’t afford to be distracted by more of his blame, division, and failed leadership.”

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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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