December 26, 2019
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NHLA CALLS FOR THE IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF STEPHEN MILLER AS TRUMP ADVISOR
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) is calling for the immediate removal of Donald Trump’s Senior Political Advisor Stephen Miller, citing recently released “xenophobic emails” to the far-right website, Breitbart News.
NHLA, a coalition of more than 40 of the nation’s preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, approved the resolution during its final meeting of 2019 last week, saying that Miller’s position in the White House gives him “direct influence on the creation of federal policies,” many of which involve immigration and people of color. The racist opinions expressed in the more than 900 emails released by the Southern Poverty Law Center in November, the resolution says, demonstrate that Miller adheres to a white supremacist ideology that in turn drives much of the Trump administration’s punitive immigration policy.
The resolution ends with a demand for Miller’s resignation or removal, warning “that NHLA sees any delay in his removal by the Trump administration as an endorsement of his white nationalist ideology.”
“Nearly twenty years into the twenty-first century, racists and nativists should have absolutely no place in any White House; Stephen Miller’s continued position is an ongoing affront to our Constitution and our shared national values,” said Thomas A. Saenz, NHLA chair and MALDEF president and general counsel. “White House advisors should propose and review proposals for their public-policy wisdom, not vet them against a despicable, white nationalist agenda.”
"Stephen Miller openly promotes a white supremacist ideology by injecting his hateful and racist rhetoric onto our public policy," said Amy L. Hinojosa, President and CEO of MANA, A National Latina Organization. "His fingerprints are on the most immoral policies of the Trump administration, from the Muslim Ban to family separation. His continued presence is an indictment of the Administration, Congress, and their supporters who refuse to demand accountability."
“The large majority of farmworkers in the U.S. are Latino immigrants who labor for low wages in dangerous jobs to put food on our tables and they deserve our respect and admiration, not an anti-immigrant, white nationalist policy agenda emanating from the White House,” said Bruce Goldstein, President of Farmworker Justice. “Stephen Miller should be fired now.”
“Hispanic Federation calls on the Trump White House to immediately remove Stephen Miller from his post as one of the longest-serving and most powerful advisors to the President,” said Frankie Miranda, President, Hispanic Federation. “Miller’s promotion of policies grounded in white nationalism, violent extremism, and debunked theories have resulted in harm to immigrants, people of color, and other marginalized communities with whom we stand in solidarity. Until President Trump distances himself from the dangerous native populism promoted by Miller by removing him, we can only assume he – and the Republican establishment who have yet to widely condemn Miller - are in agreement.”
“LatinoJustice supports any effort to have one less white supremacist in the White House. We completely endorse the NHLA in this matter. Miller has to go,” said Juan Cartagena, President and General Counsel at LatinoJustice PRLDEF.
“Now is a time to show courage and clarity, that we will not concede another inch in the face of this warped and despicable worldview - Stephen, you’re fired,” said SG Sarmiento, Campaign Director for the National Day Laborers Organizing Network (NDLON). “Whether to accept every human being’s full equality is not an option for public servants. We invite others to join with the NHLA to remind those in power of that simple fact.”
"It is ironic that Stephan Miller, the great-grandson of Jewish refugees should be one of the nation's foremost anti Latino racists of all time. He shames his ancestors," said Alex Nogales, President & CEO, National Hispanic Media Coalition.
"It is outrageous that a White supremacist has been spearheading this Administration’s cruel and senseless immigration policy and it is outrageous that absolutely nothing has been done about Stephen Miller since that fact was confirmed. It is far past time for Miller to go," said UnidosUS President and CEO, Janet Murguía.
"It is beneath the dignity of American taxpayers and civil society to use public funds to subsidize racism and bigotry in any form," said Dr. Juan Andrade, President, United States Hispanic Leadership Institute. "Racist beliefs, when kept to oneself, is one thing. But basing the nation's immigration policies on a publicly-held belief of white supremacy is quite another, and Stephen Miller's inability to keep those two things separate are more than sufficient grounds on which to demand his removal from office."