LATINO LEADERS URGE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO REJECT WHITE HOUSE SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST REGARDING IMMIGRATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a coalition of 40 of the nation’s preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, stands in strong opposition to the budget request submitted by the White House that funds the immigration executive orders. The $4.5 billion is part of a larger supplemental request totaling $44.1 billion and is the first step toward implementing President Trump’s mass deportation agenda. This is the first time that Congress will consider whether or not to use taxpayer dollars to fund President Trump’s executive orders that contradict humane and common sense immigration reform.

The proposal allocates $2.6 billion to construct a border wall, which fails to consider the current border community and their needs. Furthermore, the allocation consists of $1.5 billion for detention facilities that will continue to perpetuate abuses associated with the private prison industry. Remaining funds will allow for additional Immigration & Customs Enforcement and Customs & Border Patrol agents. These immigration tactics do not move our nation forward, but rather waste resources supporting a strong anti-immigrant agenda. Without Congressional approval, such funding will not be allocated and it is essential that members of Congress understand the proposal as a misuse of taxpayer dollars and reject it without hesitation.

NHLA also remains incredibly concerned about additional aspects of the proposed budget released by the White House, as it threatens progress in areas including, but not limited to: environment, agriculture, health, and education.

“Congress is now faced with a decision that will either promote President Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda or allow the opportunity for additional funding in spaces that strengthen communities and families, not tear them apart. The Latino community is particularly concerned with using taxpayer dollars to implement a policy that is bad for Latinos, immigrants, communities of color and our nation. We urge Congress to use their power to halt the implementation of these policies,” said Hector Sanchez Barba, Chair of NHLA and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

"From the perspective of the Latino community, there are few more consequential votes for any member of Congress than this execrable budget proposal. It is time for every member of Congress to step up and reject the costly, divisive, and unnecessary policies of nativism and excessive enforcement that Donald Trump is intent on pursuing,” said Thomas A. Saenz, NHLA Vice Chair and President and General Counsel of MALDEF.

“Trump’s budget proposal to use billions of dollars in taxpayer money to punish hard-working immigrant communities is as mean-spirited as it is fiscally irresponsible. Cutting money for afterschool programs and to feed homebound seniors to carry out the administration's xenophobic vision for America makes it all the more fiscally and morally obscene. We urge members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to reject this irrational and cold-hearted budget proposal,” said Jose Calderon, Co-Chair NHLA’s Immigration Committee and President of Hispanic Federation.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
| 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 | 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 | Voto Latino