November 18, 2016

LATINO LEADERS: SESSIONS NOMINATION AND OTHER MOVES SIGNAL TRUMP WILL FOLLOW THROUGH ON INHUMANE, ANTI-IMMIGRANT PLEDGES

Nomination of U.S. Senate’s most virulent restrictionist to be Attorney General threatens immigrant families and civil rights

WASHINGTON — The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a coalition of 40 of the nation’s preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, issued the following statement, warning that President-elect Trump's anti-immigrant policy pledges must be taken seriously following the nomination of U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General, the appointment of white nationalist Steve Bannon as chief strategist, and the transition team role of Kris Kobach, architect of draconian anti-immigrant laws SB1070 in Arizona and HB56 in Alabama. Sen. Sessions has been a leading congressional proponent of punitive approaches toward immigrants and hostile towards civil rights.

"The signals are loud and clear that the incoming Trump administration is headed toward being the most anti-immigrant administration we've seen in our lifetimes. The nomination of Jeff Sessions to be the next Attorney General is not a move to unite the nation. It is a move that indicates an assault will be waged on the civil rights of immigrants, people of color, and people who are LGBTQ. Today’s news, following the announcement that Steve Bannon will be Trump's chief adviser in the White House and that far-right opponents of humane immigration reform like Kris Kobach and many of Sessions' former aides are leading the transition team’s work on immigration, only exacerbates our worst fears for a Trump administration. While we are always prepared to have a constructive dialogue about improving the lives of Latinos and all Americans with whomever is in the White House, we will stand up and insist that Trump does not have a mandate to erode our civil rights or deport millions of our immigrant family members, friends, and neighbors," said Hector Sanchez, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council For Latin American Advancement.

“To know the policies and vision Trump plans to carry out for our nation, you really need to look no further than to the individuals that he has tapped to be part of his inner circle," stated Jose Calderon, President of the Hispanic Federation. "By all indications, Trump's America promises to be less inclusive, less diverse and less hopeful. We vehemently reject this view of an America overcome by fear and hate, and stand ready to fight to protect the rights, dignity and values of our community and nation."

"Senator Sessions’s ultra-conservative views have made him a pariah even in his own party," stated LULAC National Executive Director Brent Wilkes. "Immigrant and Latino communities have long looked to the Department of Justice for the protection of our civil rights, yet the agency would become the dispenser of terror and racial intolerance should Jeff Sessions be confirmed."

“In light of the anti-Latino and anti-immigrant rhetoric that characterized the campaign of President-elect Donald Trump, it is the duty of Latino communities to be prepared to defend ourselves and to build broad alliances with whomever we can, in order to advance a justice and equality agenda for all. Latino immigrants have been, by-and-large, a blessing to the nation. Therefore, they should be treated accordingly. To be fair, our country must tackle serious challenges, not the least of them the profound economic inequality that affects the vast majority of families in the nation. Latino communities, including those of us who are immigrants, must stand ready to put forward creative proposals to overcome this and other challenges," said Oscar Chacón, Executive Director of Alianza Americas.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

| Michael Torra | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202) 425-0582 |
| Brenda Arredondo | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (915) 373-1483 |

ABOUT THE NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERSHIP AGENDA

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda is composed of 40 of the leading national and regional Latino civil rights and public policy organizations and other elected officials, and prominent Latinos Americans. NHLA coalition members represent the diversity of the Latino community – Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other Latino Americans. NHLA’s mission calls for unity among Latinos around the country to provide the Latino community with greater visibility and a clearer, stronger influence in our country’s affairs. NHLA brings together Latino leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of, the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole. For more information, please visit: www.nationalhispanicleadership.org.

NHLA MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

Alianza Americas | American GI Forum | ASPIRA Association, Inc. | Avance | Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network | Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute | Cuban American National Council | Farmworker Justice | Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities | Hispanic Federation | Hispanic National Bar Association | Inter-University Program for Latino Research | Labor Council for Latin American Advancement | Latino Justice PRLDEF | League of United Latin American Citizens | MANA, A National Latina Organization | Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund | NALEO Educational Fund | National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives | National Association of Hispanic Publications | National Association of Latino Independent Producers | National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc. | National Council of La Raza | National Hispana Leadership Institute | National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators | National Hispanic Council on Aging | National Hispanic Environmental Council | National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts | National Hispanic Media Coalition | National Hispanic Medical Association | National Institute for Latino Policy | National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health | National Puerto Rican Coalition, Inc. | Presente.org | SER – Jobs for Progress National, Inc. | Southwest Voter Registration Education Project | United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | United States Hispanic Leadership Institute | United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce | U.S.-Mexico Foundation