Category Archives: News Releases

NILC Urges President Biden to Veto Challenge to Public Charge Rule

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2023

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

NILC Urges President Biden to Veto Challenge to Public Charge Rule

WASHINGTON — Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center and the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund, issued the following statement in response to the Senate vote to repeal the Biden administration’s public charge rule:

“For years, the National Immigration Law Center and a broad coalition of allies fought back against Trump’s cruel public charge wealth test that threatened the health, nutrition, and housing of millions of families who call the U.S. home. When he took office, President Biden and his administration worked to undo this damage and create a new rule to reinstate and clarify longstanding policy and address socioeconomic and racial inequities.  

“To see a Senate majority vote to send us back to the cruelty of the Trump era is unacceptable. This is the latest attempt in a tired right-wing political playbook meant to keep the American public divided and distracted while Republicans scapegoat immigrants and undermine the values to which this nation aspires.  

“We urge the House to vote to reject this harmful measure, and should it land on President Biden’s desk, we expect him to veto it. The wellbeing of entire communities is on the line.

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NILC Marks Expected End of Title 42 Amid New Asylum Restrictions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2023

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

NILC Marks Expected End of Title 42 Amid New Asylum Restrictions 

WASHINGTON — Kica Matos, incoming president of the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to the expected end of Title 42 expulsions, and the new restrictions on the legal ability to seek asylum in the United States:

“Today is an important day to reflect on the devastating harms Title 42 inflicted, and to mark its end. But – with reports that the Biden administration will be replacing it with additional restrictions on the right to seek asylum – it is not a day to celebrate. If the administration proceeds with its plan to restrict the legal right of people to seek safety in the United States, they will effectively be slamming the door shut on people fleeing danger and forcing families back into harm’s way. This action would not only violate our nation’s obligations under federal and international law, but also directly contradicts President Biden’s repeated promises to uphold and strengthen asylum rights.

“Rather than doubling down on cruel and unnecessary Trump-era policies at the border, the Biden administration must instead embrace the fundamental values we cherish as Americans and restore access to asylum for everyone who comes to the U.S. seeking freedom and safety. This means investing in the infrastructure to process asylum claims and surging resources to organizations on the ground who have a wealth of experience in welcoming people to this country. America for generations has been a refuge for those fleeing danger and persecution, and we are at our best when we welcome people who are in need of protection.”

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As DACA Ruling Approaches, 2022 Survey of DACA Recipients Emphasizes DACAs Importance, Highlights End Would Hurt the American Economy and Harm Local Communities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 27, 2023

CONTACT
Juan Gastelum, NILC, [email protected], 213-375-3149
José Alonso Muñoz, United We Dream, [email protected]
Madia Coleman, the Center for American Progress, [email protected]

As DACA Ruling Approaches, 2022 Survey of DACA Recipients Emphasizes DACAs Importance, Highlights End Would Hurt the American Economy and Harm Local Communities

WASHINGTON — A new survey published today by the U.S. Immigration Policy Center at the University of California, San Diego; United We Dream; the National Immigration Law Center; and the Center for American Progress illustrates that Dreamers continue to contribute to communities across the United States and their work strengthens the local and national economy.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy continues to be challenged in the courts, despite its success and the vital contributions its recipients have made to the United States. Last October, in a lawsuit filed by Texas state officials, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld a Texas federal district judge’s lamentable ruling that DACA is unlawful but allowed DACA to remain in place for current recipients. Another ruling is expected from the Texas court in the coming months.

An end to DACA would mean that nearly 600,000 current DACA recipients could lost protection from deportation and be forcibly separated from their communities and loved ones DACA’s ending would also have negative implications for the U.S. economy and workforce.

The survey findings highlight that there are chilling consequences to the end of DACA:

  • 63.6 percent of DACA recipients would be less likely to continue their education, and 65.3 percent would be less likely to pursue new educational opportunities.
  • 46.6 percent of DACA recipients would be less likely to look for a new job, 48.5 percent would be less likely to report wage theft or other abuses by their employer, and 66.6 percent would be less likely to pursue an occupational license.
  • 40.2 percent of DACA recipients would be less likely to participate in public events where police may be present if they no longer had DACA.
  • 37.4 percent of DACA recipients would be less likely to report a crime they witnessed, and 34.8 percent would be less likely to report a crime of which they themselves were victim.
  • 43.0 percent of DACA recipients would be less likely to use public services that require providing personal contact information, such as going to city hall, and 54.6 percent would be less likely to conduct business that required personal contact information, such as opening a bank account or getting a loan for which they are qualified.

However, despite navigating an increasingly precarious future DACA recipients continue to persist and make strides in the United States:

  • 17.7 percent of respondents purchased their first home after receiving DACA. Among respondents 25 years and older, this figure increases to 22.4 percent.
  • Overall, 26.1 percent of respondents are currently in school, a large majority—69.0 percent—of whom are pursuing a bachelor’s or advanced degree.
  • The 2022 data show that over eight out of every ten respondents (83.1 percent) are currently employed.
  • Among respondents ages 25 and older, the employment rate jumps to 90.7 percent.

Results from the survey show that DACA recipients continue to be indispensable members of American society whose family lives and workplaces will be disrupted if DACA ends. More than that, the survey paints a picture of DACA recipients’ full lives, with family, friends, coworkers, and classmates whose lives will all be impacted upended if DACA were to end.

The new data from the survey reveals that there are concerning effects on DACA recipients’ lives should DACA end, that would create additional barriers to their full engagement in civic society, the economy, and educational systems.

Nothing short of congressional action to provide access to a path to citizenship will alleviate the daily concerns many DACA recipients have about their and their families’ futures in the United States.

“This year, new data in this survey illustrates that DACA recipients persevere, building full lives in the United States despite fear for their livelihood and stability in the face of relentless attacks against their status as Americans,” said Tom K. Wong, associate professor of political science and founding director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Center at the University of California, San Diego, and a senior fellow at CAP. “DACA recipients have the right to not live in a state of fear, their lives defined by legal unpredictability. We must work towards a permanent status and stability for DACA recipients and their families.”

“In the decade since we won DACA, the work permit and protections from deportation the program allows have been life changing for DACA recipients and our nation as a whole,” said Karen Ruiz Fierro, Federal Advocacy & Policy Manager at United We Dream. “Yet, for almost as long as DACA has been around, there have been efforts to try to end it, a move that would upend the lives of hundreds of thousands of immigrants like me. Our latest DACA survey again shows the negative impact this would have not just on DACA recipients, and DACA eligible youth, but on millions of Americans who live with, work with, or rely on, a DACA recipient. The results of our latest survey also show that DACA recipients are concerned with what the possible end of DACA could have negative implications on their education and employment opportunities. While a lawsuit by anti-immigrant state officials continues, it’s imperative that Congress pass a path to citizenship for the millions of undocumented people living in the U.S.”

“For more than 10 years, DACA has had a transformative impact on my life, allowing me to go to school, work, and build a life with my family and loved ones in the U.S.,” said Diana Pliego, policy associate at the National Immigration Law Center. “And for more than 10 years, DACA’s impermanence has kept me and hundreds of thousands of other immigrant youth like me on edge that the homes we’ve created here could be upended because of a politicized court ruling or politicians playing a game with our futures. DACA recipients are vital to this country and it is past time for Congress to step up and pass a permanent solution.”

“DACA recipients are a crucial part of the fabric of American life—not just their families but the country at large, and year after year the survey illustrates that point,” said Nicole Prchal Svajlenka, former director of research for the Rights and Justice department at CAP. It’s well past time for Congress to recognize that and pass a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and all undocumented Americans.”

Read the column:2022 Survey of DACA Recipients Underscores the Importance of a Pathway to Citizenship by Tom K. Wong, Ignacia Rodriguez Kmec, Diana Pliego, Karen Fierro Ruiz, Debu Gandhi, Trinh Q. Truong, Nicole Prchal Svajlenka.

To view the full survey results, visit this link.

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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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NILC Statement on Expansion of Health Care Access for DACA Recipients

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2023

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

NILC Statement on Expansion of Health Care Access for DACA Recipients

WASHINGTON — Kica Matos, executive vice president of programs and strategy at the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to the Biden administration’s announcement that it will be issuing a proposed rule to lift Affordable Care Act restrictions and expand Medicaid eligibility – in states that have opted to cover lawfully present children and pregnant people without a waiting period – for recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA):

“As the pandemic made clear, the health of our communities depends on all of us having access to quality care. The Affordable Care Act and Medicaid are a lifeline to so many people, but DACA recipients have been unjustly excluded for over a decade. We commend the Biden administration for moving to rectify this years-long injustice so that more DACA recipients can access the care they need.

“NILC and our partners have called on administrations to resolve this harmful injustice since DACA first went into effect. We celebrate this victory alongside all those whose tireless advocacy made it possible.

“This move comes as many DACA recipients experience harmful mental and physical health effects from living through continuous, politically motivated attacks on the program. Even as we celebrate this victory, we will continue to advocate for Congress to pass a pathway to citizenship that provides DACA recipients and immigrant youth the peace and stability we all need to thrive.”

For more information on DACA recipients and access to health care, view our most recent data report: Tracking DACA Recipients’ Access to Health Care

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NILC Statement on the Reintroduction of The POWER Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2023

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

NILC Statement on the Reintroduction of The POWER Act

WASHINGTON — Kica Matos, executive vice president of programs and strategy at the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to the reintroduction of the Protect Our Workers from Exploitation and Retaliation (POWER) Act:

“All workers, regardless of their immigration status, deserve safe working conditions and the ability to speak up when their civil or labor rights are violated. The POWER Act is a critical piece of legislation that would defend the rights of immigrant workers, which ultimately creates a better environment for all workers. When more people can safely fight back against abusive employers, worker power and conditions improve for everyone. We call on Congress to pass the POWER Act and help promote fair and safe workplaces for all workers.”

Introduced by Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), the POWER Act would help workers exercise their rights to organize for safe working conditions and fair wages without fear of retaliation. Key provisions of the bill include expanding eligibility for U visas for workers who are involved in a workplace claim and who fear or have been threatened with force, physical restraint, serious harm, or other abuses. The POWER Act would also allow stays of removal and employment authorization for workers who have filed or are material witnesses in a workplace claim.

The reintroduction follows the Department of Homeland Security’s January announcement of policy guidance that clarifies and streamlines the process of providing temporary protection for workers involved in labor disputes.

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NILC Statement on Reports that the Biden Administration is Considering Restarting Family Detention

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2023

CONTACT
Email: [email protected]
Emily Morris, 213-457-7458

NILC Statement on Reports that the Biden Administration is Considering Restarting Family Detention

WASHINGTON — Kica Matos, executive vice president of programs and strategy at the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to reports that the Biden administration is considering detaining families apprehended at the border:

“As an organization that previously sued to shed light on the cruel practice of detaining families seeking safety in our country, we are outraged by reports that the Biden administration is weighing its reinstatement. This shameful and immoral practice, which President Biden has rightly condemned and discontinued, inflicts lasting harm on children and families. It goes against the values we aspire to as a nation, while doing nothing to advance a humane and orderly immigration system. Reviving family detention sets us back and sends a misguided message that criminalizing those seeking refuge is the right solution. It would be a grave error and a new low for an administration already down a backwards path of embracing failed deterrence policies at the border.”

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NILC Celebrates the Confirmation of Araceli Martínez-Olguín to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2023

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

NILC Celebrates the Confirmation of Araceli Martínez-Olguín to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

WASHINGTON — Sara K. Gould, interim executive director of the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), and Angela M. Banks, Chair of NILC’s Board of Directors, issued the following statement on the confirmation of Araceli Martínez-Olguín, a supervising attorney at NILC, to serve as U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California:

“We applaud the historic confirmation of Araceli Martínez-Olguín, our dear friend and colleague, to serve as a federal judge in the Northern District of California. Today the Judiciary gained an exemplary jurist with deep experience defending justice and advancing gender, economic, and racial equity. In addition to her many professional accolades and successes, her lived experience as a Latina immigrant brings a crucial perspective to the federal judiciary.

“Beyond her qualifications, at NILC we have come to know Ms. Martínez-Olguín as a distinctly thoughtful colleague who brings profound care and dedication to everything she does. We know she will be a superb judge who will work to advance equal justice for all.”

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NILC Calls on Senate to Confirm Julie Su for U.S. Secretary of Labor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2023

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

NILC Calls on Senate to Confirm Julie Su for U.S. Secretary of Labor

WASHINGTON — Kica Matos, executive vice president of programs and strategy at the National Immigration Law Center, issued the following statement in response to President Biden’s nomination of Julie Su for Secretary of Labor:

“Deputy Secretary Julie Su, a fierce ally and strong advocate for workers, is preeminently qualified to lead the Department of Labor. Throughout her career in public service, Su has demonstrated a commitment to championing low-wage workers regardless of their immigration status. Her impressive track record includes redefining effective labor law enforcement, pioneering successful approaches to combat worker misclassification and retaliation, and winning policy changes protecting garment workers in California. She understands that strong enforcement of labor laws, across industry and regardless of immigration status, ultimately strengthens all American workers and the labor market.

“President Biden promised to create a cabinet that looks like the country. As a woman of color and a daughter of immigrants, Su embodies the diversity of our nation. If confirmed, she would be a key figure in helping to strengthen worker organizing and effective labor law enforcement. We wholeheartedly endorse her for the position and call on the Senate to confirm her without delay.”

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