January 29, 2018

LATINO LEADERS CONDEMN WHITE HOUSE’S PROPOSED IMMIGRATION FRAMEWORK
WH holding Dreamers hostage to push forward a xenophobic, racist agenda

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a coalition of 45 of the nation’s most preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, is offended by and condemns the immigration framework released by the White House. The proposed outline was provided to Congressional leaders on Thursday.

In order to address the crisis he created by rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he supports a pathway to citizenship for the roughly 800,000 DACA holders in the U.S. and for immigrants who are eligible but do not currently have DACA protection ― an estimated 1.8 million people altogether. However, under the most current White House proposal this comes at a steep price. The plan makes drastic changes to the current immigration system, as well as creating a $25 billion fund for Donald Trump’s wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and additional border security measures. The framework calls for the elimination of the diversity visa lottery system and slashes legal immigration by nearly 50% with limits on familial migration to the “nuclear” family — spouses and minor children — that excludes parents, adult children, and siblings.

“President Trump’s immigration framework is an unacceptable wish list of far right anti-immigrant policies that will impose draconian measures on hardworking immigrants, separate families, slash legal immigration and build an offensive US tax-payer funded wall on our border with Mexico,” stated Brent Wilkes, NHLA Treasurer and Chief Executive Officer of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). “The President is holding the lives of 1.8 million DREAMers hostage to meet his divisive campaign promises and we urge Congress to reject the framework as a non-starter.”

“The White House’s proposed framework is divisive, inhumane, impractical and the latest example yet that President Trump is running the most hateful, xenophobic White House we have seen. This administration is holding Dreamers hostage in order to push for a policy that is a white nationalist’s dream come true. We will strongly oppose this proposal,” said Hector E. Sanchez Barba, Chair of NHLA and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA).

"There is nothing subtle or humane about the White House framework released last week," said Thomas A. Saenz, NHLA Vice Chair and MALDEF President and General Counsel. "It would take our immigration policies backward nearly 100 years."

“It is incredible that an administration that prides itself on making America great is engaged in a cruel and unrelenting campaign to undo one of the truly great things about America: our role as a beacon to the world’s immigrants; no matter their background, religion, education, or skills. Every one of our NHLA organizations will work strenuously to oppose these harmful White House proposals at every turn,” said Jose Calderon, Co-Chair of the NHLA Immigration Committee and President of the Hispanic Federation.

“We need to name this immigration proposal for what it is: an emboldening of a racist, nationalist, and xenophobic agenda. Trump and Stephen Miller’s plan would give some Dreamers a path to citizenship at a grave cost to their families and other undocumented immigrants," said Jessica González-Rojas, Co-Chair of NHLA's Latina Task Force  and Health Committee, and executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. "Dreamers are not bargaining chips. They deserve more than a White House that continues holding their health and safety hostage in an attempt to advance its white supremacist agenda. We urge Congress to prioritize passing a clean Dream Act without compromising the future or safety of our communities.”

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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 45 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 G.I. Forum | ASPIRA Association | Avance Inc. | Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network | Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute | Farmworker Justice | GreenLatinos | 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 and Educational Fund | Mi Familia Vota | National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures | National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives | National Association of Hispanic Publications | National Day Laborer Organizing Network | NALEO Educational Fund | National Association of Latino Independent Producers | National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc. | 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/o Psychological Association | National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health | Presente.org | SER Jobs for Progress National | Southwest Voter Registration Education Project | UnidosUS | United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | United States Hispanic Leadership Institute | United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce | U.S.- Mexico Foundation | Voto Latino