Joseph Villela joined CHIRLA in 2005 as state policy advocate. Joseph advocates, monitors, analyzes, state laws and regulations pertaining to health access for immigrants, income support programs, immigrant worker’s rights, and immigrant integration. As CHIRLA’s state policy advocate Joseph has worked on legislation to advance the rights of workers, and fought against budget cuts to health and human services programs critical to immigrant communities. In addition, Joseph in conjunction with the California Immigrant Policy Center worked to secure funding for the Naturalization Service Program (NSP) which helps community base organizations to assist immigrant to naturalize, help passed legislation to further advance the rights and integration of immigrants, and defeat legislation that would have jeopardize public health, threaten worker’s and civil rights, as well as make our streets less safe. Joseph obtained a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.
