Author Archives: Juan Gastelum

NILC Statement on 2024 State of the Union

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2024

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Juan Gastelum, 213-375-3149
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458

NILC Statement on 2024 State of the Union

WASHINGTON — Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center and the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund, issued the following statement in response to the 2024 State of the Union:

“Tonight, President Biden missed an opportunity to truly distinguish himself from his predecessor on immigration. Rather than embracing the policies he articulated on his first day in office, the President instead doubled down on the Senate’s failed border bill and parroted dehumanizing Republican rhetoric about immigrants. We urge the President to do better.”

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Immigrant Rights Groups Demand Accountability for ‘Gross Violations of Human Rights’ at Open-Air Detention Sites at U.S.-Mexico Border

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2023

CONTACT
Juan Gastelum, NILC, [email protected]
Melissa Flores, AOL, [email protected]
Layne Mullett, AFSC, [email protected]
Jacqueline Arellano, Border Kindness, [email protected]
Brianna Krong, CGRS, [email protected]
Spencer Tilger, IRAP, [email protected]
Mallory Adamski, SBCC, [email protected]

Immigrant Rights Groups Demand Accountability for ‘Gross Violations of Human Rights’ at Open-Air Detention Sites at U.S.-Mexico Border

Federal Complaint Details Dangerous Conditions for Asylum Seekers Forcefully Held Outdoors Without Adequate Food, Water, or Medical Care for Several Hours to Days

JACUMBA, Calif. — Seven immigrant rights organizations lodged an urgent federal complaint this week against the Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) and its Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for violating their own custody standards for asylum seekers being held in several open-air detention sites along the U.S.-Mexico border in California. For several months, Border Patrol officers have forced asylum seekers to wait outdoors for several hours or days between sections of the San Diego border walls and other open-air sites in the Jacumba desert where they aren’t allowed to leave and don’t have adequate access to water, food, sanitation, medical care, or protection from the elements.

The 88-page complaint was filed by the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies (CGRS), International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), and National Immigration Law Center (NILC) on behalf of Al Otro Lado, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Border Kindness, and Southern Border Communities Coalition (SBCC). This is a second federal complaint filed against the CRCL for violations of human rights for its practices at the open-air detention sites, following a complaint filed by SBCC on May 13, 2023, shortly after the violations were first documented. However, the inhumane conditions at the open-air detention sites have not changed and are spreading to other sites along the southern border.

In the subsequent months, at least one person has tragically died while trapped in an open-air detention site, and conditions are expected to deteriorate as winter weather intensifies, further endangering those exposed to the elements.

“It is galling that the Department of Homeland Security claims that their ‘lack of resources’ compels them to hold vulnerable refugees in open-air prisons without food, water, shelter, adequate sanitation facilities, or medical care,” said Erika Pinheiro, Executive Director of Al Otro Lado. “DHS’ 2023 budget is almost $170 billion, yet it forces overstretched nonprofits, mutual aid groups, and dedicated volunteers to provide the basics that migrants need to survive in its open-air detention sites. Holding refugees in these inhumane conditions is a deliberate choice that contradicts the United States’ self-proclaimed position as a bastion of freedom and human rights.”

“It is unconscionable that Border Patrol agents force asylum seeking migrants to wait for hours and days in dangerous conditions,” said Pedro Rios, Director of the American Friends Service Committee’s US-Mexico Border Program. “In San Diego, one person in a medically vulnerable state has already died at an open-air detention site. Community members and human rights organizations have been left to provide basic care, including food and water, to thousands seeking shelter and asylum in the United States.”

“For months, some of the world’s most vulnerable people have arrived to the border in search of safety, and have instead been detained outdoors in life threatening conditions,” said Jacqueline Arellano, Director of USA Programs for Border Kindness. “Border Patrol is reacting with deliberate negligence, and in their refusal to provide for the basic needs of those in their detention, have risked thousands of lives by misdirecting their responsibilities to the community. The practice of Open Air Detention must be acknowledged and discontinued immediately to end this mass suffering and before there is further loss of life.”

“CBP’s open-air detention sites endanger vulnerable families, children, and adults seeking safety,” said Edith Sangüeza, CGRS Staff Attorney. “No one should be forced to endure such deplorable conditions as a consequence of exercising their rights. The government must act swiftly to protect lives. And it can. Much suffering could be alleviated if the government stopped illegally turning away asylum seekers without a CBP One appointment at ports of entry, leaving them no option but to take a dangerous path through the desert.”

“There is simply no excuse for this shocking and inhumane treatment of people seeking safety,” said Linda Evarts, IRAP Senior Supervising Attorney. “Border Patrol is blatantly violating its own detention standards and endangering the lives of people in need. We demand that CBP treat people with the dignity and care they deserve.”

“This is another example of CBP’s egregious mistreatment of people seeking safety. And it must be corrected immediately,” said Sarah Kim Pak, Staff Attorney at the National Immigration Law Center. “At NILC, we’ve taken CBP to court before for holding people in deplorable, unconstitutional conditions. We demand that the agency abide by its own standards and its obligations under law to provide people with basic necessities.”

“Once again, Customs and Border Protection is sidestepping accountability for not abiding by their own custody standards for asylum seekers, which not only undermines trust in the agency but the entire U.S. immigration system,” said Lilian Serrano, Director of the Southern Border Communities Coalition. ”CBP has a responsibility to protect human rights and dignity for all, yet their practice of forcing asylum seekers to remain outdoors in remote open-air detention sites says otherwise. Exposing migrants to the elements in the middle of winter with no food or water for days is beyond inhumane – it’s appalling, and CBP must end this now.”

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Additional Materials

Read the federal CRCL complaint: HERE
Read SBCC’s May 2023 CRCL complaint: HERE
Take action with Al Otro Lado and #WelcomeWithDignity’s social media toolkit: HERE

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NILC Statement Condemning Anti-Immigrant Texas Bill SB 4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 15, 2023

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Juan Gastelum, 213-375-3149
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458

NILC Statement Condemning Anti-Immigrant Texas Bill SB 4

AUSTIN, Texas — Lisa Graybill, vice president of law and policy at the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to the passage of Texas Senate Bill 4:

“SB 4 is the latest attempt by Texas legislators to take federal immigration law into their own hands for personal political gain through hatemongering and intimidation. Both the politics and the law behind this bill are dead wrong. Texas law enforcement officers should focus on protecting the health, welfare, and safety of all community members instead of trying to become the immigration police. This bill will have real human consequences that all Texas residents will feel. It is an extreme bill that will endanger communities and lead to racial profiling of both immigrants and U.S.-born residents.

“Federal courts, including the Supreme Court, have consistently held that the federal government has the sole authority to regulate immigration policy. The Texas Legislature is wrong to have passed it, and Governor Abbott will be wrong if he signs it. We call on Texas to abandon this cruel, illegal scheme and recognize that immigrants make Texas and our nation stronger.”

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NILC Statement on Reports that Biden Admin is Negotiating Changes to Asylum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2023

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Juan Gastelum, 213-375-3149
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458

NILC Statement on Reports that Biden Admin is Negotiating Changes to Asylum

WASHINGTON — Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to reports that the Biden administration is considering sweeping changes to the U.S. asylum system in negotiations with Congress around aid to Israel and Ukraine:

“The appalling proposals the White House is reportedly considering would decimate critical asylum protections precisely when they’re most needed. Together with other abhorrent actions happening at our borders on his watch, these sweeping changes would further betray President Biden’s previously articulated commitment to bring humanity and order to our systems to welcome people seeking safety. The United States’ commitment to help those facing crises around the world must also extend to those seeking safety at our doorstep. We urge the administration to reject linking the decimation of our legal asylum system with providing aid to Ukraine and Israel.”

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Lawsuit Claims Indiana Law Discriminates Based on National Origin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2023

CONTACT
Juan Gastelum, National Immigration Law Center, 213-375-3149, [email protected]
Ariella Sult, ACLU of Indiana, 317-759-6425, [email protected]

Lawsuit Claims Indiana Law Discriminates Based on National Origin

ACLU of Indiana and National Immigration Law Center File Lawsuit against H.E.A. 1050

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of five Haitian immigrants who want to obtain an Indiana driver’s license or identification card.

The federal government may temporarily admit a noncitizen to the United States “for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit,” under “humanitarian parole.” In recent years the federal government has authorized the entry of noncitizens from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua due to humanitarian crises in those countries.

H.E.A. 1050 is a new Indiana law, passed during the 2023 legislative session, that creates a pathway for individuals on humanitarian parole to obtain Indiana driver’s licenses or identification cards, but only if they are from Ukraine.

People on humanitarian parole from other countries could also benefit from being allowed to drive or obtain state-issued identification. The plaintiffs in the case, for example, are authorized to work in the United States, all hold steady jobs, and have to rely on others for rides to work. According to the complaint, the ability to drive is of fundamental importance in American society, particularly in cities and towns in Indiana where services are frequently dispersed and where public transportation is not always accessible.

The lawsuit claims that by allowing individuals from Ukraine to obtain an I.D. but not permitting the same opportunity to Haitian refugees, H.E.A. 1050 represents national-origin discrimination.

The lawsuit claims that the new law is an unconstitutional violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, that it is preempted by federal law as a result of the Supremacy Clause, and that it violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d, et seq.

“Our clients are being denied access to state issue IDs solely because they are Haitians and not Ukrainians,” said Gavin M. Rose, ACLU of Indiana senior attorney. “Non-Ukrainians on humanitarian parole are left struggling to get to work, to keep medical appointments, to take children to school, and more, all because they cannot drive.”

“The federal government regulates immigration- not the states,” said Chiraayu Gosrani, an attorney with NILC. “The State of Indiana cannot create immigration classifications that conflict with federal law, and here they have done just that in an effort to unconstitutionally discriminate against people with humanitarian protections who are overwhelmingly immigrants of color.”

The complaint can be viewed at: https://www.aclu-in.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/dkt_1_-_complaint_no_exhs.pdf

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NILC Launches “Freedom to Thrive” Portrait Pop Ups Across the Country

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26, 2023

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Madison Allman, 202-384-1279
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458

The National Immigration Law Center Launches “Freedom to Thrive” Portrait Pop Ups Across the Country

WASHINGTON — Today, The National Immigration Law Center launches their “Freedom to Thrive” portrait sessions starting in California, with Tennessee and Texas sessions planned later this year.

The Freedom to Thrive initiative is a narrative and cultural campaign to shift the hearts and minds of the American public and create lasting change that enables all of us to thrive. At the event, community members in Long Beach will share their stories and pose for their portraits as we explore what it means to thrive through storytelling. These portrait sessions will capture the vibrancy and resilience of immigrant communities and examples of what it means to have the Freedom to Thrive in the United States. These sessions aim to show the American public that we all deserve a society where we can pursue our dreams, engage in meaningful work, and live with joy, dignity, and love.

Victoria Ballesteros, Executive Vice President of Strategic Communications and Narrative at the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement:

“The freedom to thrive belongs to us all. The portrait pop up in Long Beach, California, will be a celebration of the diversity and dignity of immigrant communities. Each of us has a story in our pursuit of joy, love, and the American dream. Yet, the reality of our present version of the American dream has prioritized individualism and the accumulation of wealth. Through this project we hope to infuse in the public consciousness a vision of freedom that is rooted in abundance and centers our interconnectedness and our human dignity, no matter how much money we have, what we look like, or where we were born.”

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NILC Statement on Court Order Blocking Biden Admin’s Asylum Restrictions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2023

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Madison Allman, 202-384-1279
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458

NILC Statement on Court Order Blocking Biden Admin’s Asylum Restrictions

WASHINGTON — Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California’s order that is set to block President Biden’s asylum restrictions:

“The federal court’s decision validates what’s been evident for months – that the Biden administration’s attacks on the U.S. asylum system are unlawful and immoral. Seeking safety on U.S. soil is a legal and human right, and the Biden administration should never have imposed these cruel restrictions in the first place.

“The Biden administration must abandon its inhumane and illegal efforts to obstruct asylum access and instead reaffirm the President’s repeated promises to welcome people seeking safety with dignity.”

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NILC Statement on the Supreme Court Decision in Affirmative Action Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2023

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Madison Allman, 202-384-1279
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458

NILC Statement on the Supreme Court Decision in Affirmative Action Case

WASHINGTON — Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action programs in the cases Students for Fair Admission v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admission v. University of North Carolina:

“Today’s Supreme Court decision on affirmative action undermines nearly 50 years of progress in the fight against systemic barriers to education for students of color. While we are appalled with this outcome, NILC is resolute in our commitment to continue working alongside our communities for a more just and equitable society in which all of us can access a quality education. We are all better off when every person in our communities can access the tools and supports we need to thrive.”

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NILC Urges Senate to Confirm Julie Su as Department of Labor Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2023

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Madison Allman, 202-384-1279
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458

NILC Urges Senate to Confirm Julie Su as Department of Labor Secretary

WASHINGTON — Kica Matos, incoming president of the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee moving forward with the nomination of Julie Su for Secretary of Labor:

“Deputy Secretary Julie Su has long been a champion and ally for the rights of all workers, regardless of immigration status. Her track record of advancing the rights of low-wage workers and enforcing labor laws makes workplaces safer and better for everyone.

“The daughter of immigrants, she embodies the promise of this nation and her decades of experience make her uniquely qualified to lead the Department of Labor. Now that the HELP Committee has advanced her nomination, we urge the full Senate to vote to confirm her as secretary without delay.”

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National Immigrant Rights Leader Kica Matos to Serve as President of NILC and IJF

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2023

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458
Madison Allman, 202-384-1279

National Immigrant Rights Leader Kica Matos to Serve as President of NILC and IJF

WASHINGTON — The Boards of Directors for the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) and NILC Immigrant Justice Fund (IJF) today announced the appointment of Kica Matos as the organizations’ president. Matos, who joined NILC and IJF as executive vice president of programs and strategy in January 2023, brings over two decades of experience as an organizer and leader in the immigrant rights and social justice movements and as a litigator in state and federal court. She will step into the role in May.

Angela Banks, chair of the NILC board of directors, said: “Kica is a visionary leader who has fought for the rights and opportunities of low-income immigrants and their loved ones throughout her career. With her background in grassroots organizing and extensive experience at the most senior levels of large, impactful social justice organizations, she is the right person to advance NILC’s mission.”

Allen Erenbaum, chair of the IJF board of directors, said: “Given the current political environment and potential for building political power for immigrant communities, Kica’s leadership, knowledge, and skills make her the best person to continue advancing the goals of the IJF. We are excited for her to lead the IJF to even greater impact.”

Kica Matos, incoming president of NILC and IJF, said: “I am honored to be appointed president of NILC and IJF and to lead the organizations at a pivotal time not only in the immigrant rights movement, but in the history of our nation. Immigrants are vital to our country yet are too often the targets of politically motivated attacks and systemic injustices. For the last two decades, I have dedicated my career to fighting for justice for low-income immigrants at the local and national level. With the amazing staff at NILC and IJF, I will continue to fight for the rights of immigrant communities and help build a nation where all of us, regardless of how much money we have, what we look like, or where we were born, have the freedom to thrive.”

To advance NILC’s mission, Matos will play a pivotal role in leveraging the strategies outlined in NILC’s Strategic Framework for Transformational Change, which includes building power to achieve progressive legal and policy reforms, strengthening and expanding the movement for immigrant justice, and advancing narrative and culture change.

Before joining NILC and IJF, Matos was vice president of initiatives at the Vera Institute of Justice and held the role of director of Immigrant Rights and Racial Justice at the Center for Community Change. Additionally, she served as deputy mayor in the city of New Haven, where she oversaw community programs and launched new initiatives including prisoner re-entry and youth and immigrant integration.

Matos began her career as a community organizer and human rights advocate, including as research director of the Capital Punishment Project at the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. She went on to become an Assistant Federal Defender in Philadelphia, where she represented death row inmates in state and federal courts. In 2002, Matos became the first woman to serve as executive director of JUNTA, New Haven’s oldest Latino advocacy organization.

Matos has a bachelor’s degree from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, a master’s from the New School, and a juris doctorate from Cornell Law School. She was awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Albertus Magnus College in 2017 and the University of New Haven in 2019. Matos was inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Hall of fame in 2021. She was born in Puerto Rico and lives in Connecticut.

Matos takes the helm of the organization from Sara K. Gould, interim executive director of NILC and IJF. Gould served as board chair of NILC and IJF before becoming interim executive director, stepping in to lead the organizations following the departure of long-time executive director, Marielena Hincapié, and will remain with the organization during the transition to permanent leadership.

Angela Banks, chair of the NILC board of directors, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Sara for her steadfast leadership as interim executive director of NILC over the past six months, and for her commitment to the mission of the organization, to the staff, and to advancing the rights of low-income immigrants in our nation.”

Allen Erenbaum, chair of the IJF board of directors, said: “Sara’s leadership helped the IJF prepare for our permanent president while ensuring the success of the important work ahead building political power for immigrant communities. The IJF is indebted to Sara for her leadership and unwavering commitment.”

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