COALITION FOR HUMANE IMMIGRANT RIGHTS

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 5, 2021

U.S. SEN.-DESIGNATE ALEX PADILLA PROACTIVELY
SEEKS OUT INPUT FROM IMMIGRANT COMMUNITYU.S.

Sen.-designate Alex Padilla uses his life and professional experiences to inform
his engagement with immigrant rights leaders before heading to Washington

LOS ANGELES -- The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), the largest immigrant rights organization in California, applauds U.S. Sen.-designate Alex Padilla's proactive effort to meet virtually with immigrant rights leaders before heading to Washington, D.C. this Tuesday, January 5, 2021.

During the meeting, Padilla heard about the various needs of immigrants in the state, specifically humane immigration reform and an end to mass immigrant detention and deportations. Padilla, a son of immigrant workers, has often commented on how his parents' immigrant experience, and his work in Los Angeles and California government, informs his policies.

Mr. Padilla discussed the community's priorities with local, regional, and national immigrant rights leaders in a Biden-Harris administration. Relief for immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic heads the list.

Please attribute the following statements to U.S. Sen.-designate Padilla:

“The last four years have been traumatic for immigrant communities, but finally, there is light at the end of the tunnel. We have a moral imperative to swiftly reverse the cruel policies of the Trump administration that tore apart families, destroyed our asylum system, and dimmed the beacon of hope that this country represents.

"Among my priorities will be encouraging naturalization for eligible immigrants and finding permanent protections for the 11 million undocumented immigrants living, working and enriching the United States of America. I look forward to continuing to work with stakeholders, advocates, my Senate colleagues, and the Biden-Harris administration to get it done.”

Please attribute the following statements to Angelica Salas, CHIRLA executive director:

"Sen.-designate Alex Padilla's life experiences and professional trajectory give him the necessary foundation to tackle just immigration reform and an end to immigrant detention and deportations. He can help bring real relief to our battered, suffering community. We support Padilla as the next champion for California and for immigrants.

"As we emerge from years of relentless attacks, invisibility and suffering, all while actively carrying out essential contributions, we look forward to working with Padilla as we take our rightful place in this society that we call home.

"California's YES to Immigrants Forward immigration reform and justice campaign, in alignment with the national We are Home campaign, will join forces with this tireless advocate to forge the progressive change our nation needs and deserves."

The organizations participating in Tuesday's meeting were:

*Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
*International Institute Los Angeles
*National Day Laborers Organizing Network (NDLON)
*Central American Resource Center Los Angeles (CARECEN-LA)
*ACLU SoCal
*Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA)
*California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC)

*Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (ICIJ)
*Jewish Federation SD
*Advancing Justice Los Angeles (AAAJ)
*TODEC
*FWD.us
*United Farm Workers (UFW)
*Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI)
*Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)
*Alliance San Diego
*National Immigration Law Center (NILC)
*USWW
*United We Dream
*PICO California
*National Partnership for New Americans
*Mi Familia Vota (MFV)
*We Are All America
*ACLU San Diego
*Community Change Action
*Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF)
*UFW Foundation
*Korean Resource Center (KRC)
*Immigrant Defenders Law Center
*Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE-LA)