Category: July 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2022

CONTACT
Juan Gastelum, [email protected], 213-375-3149

NILC Statement on the Nomination of Araceli Martínez-Olguín to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

WASHINGTON — Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), issued the following statement on President Biden’s nomination of Araceli Martínez-Olguín, a supervising attorney at NILC, to serve as a federal district judge:

“The National Immigration Law Center proudly and enthusiastically supports the nomination of our own Araceli Martínez-Olguín to serve as a federal judge in the Northern District of California. Ms. Martínez-Olguín is an exemplary litigator whose work over many years at NILC and other leading national civil rights organizations has served to advance gender, economic, and racial equity, and justice for all people. Her remarkable understanding of the Constitution and the law, her tenacity in advocating for the people she has represented throughout her career, and her lived experience as a Latina immigrant will bring an invaluable perspective to the federal judiciary at this crucial moment for our country. She is exactly the type of judge we need on the federal bench who will be fair, judicious, and ensure that our legal system can still be a tool for achieving equity, equality, and justice for all.

“Ms. Martínez-Olguín’s nomination is a testament to President Biden’s commitment to nominating qualified jurists to serve on the bench, who also move us closer to a judiciary that reflects the diversity of our country. We thank Senator Padilla for recommending her nomination and we urge the Senate Judiciary Committee to expeditiously consider and confirm Ms. Martínez-Olguín to serve as a federal judge.”

###

NILC Statement on the Department of Labor’s Guidance for Workers Involved in Labor Disputes

WASHINGTON — Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to the Department of Labor’s announcement of a process by which workers involved in labor disputes can request temporary immigration protections:

“The Department of Labor’s actions to protect immigrant workers are an important step toward advancing President Biden’s historic commitment to support worker organizing and empowerment, and critical to ensuring the rights of all workers. This victory is the result of years of organizing by workers and advocates and demonstrates the progress workers can achieve when they come together. 

“Providing temporary protections to immigrant workers that allow them to safely fight back against injustices in the workplace will bolster all workers’ rights. The Department of Homeland Security must swiftly follow through on their commitment to clarify the process by which workers can access protections so that all working people, including immigrant workers, can do their jobs safely and with dignity.”

###