Latinos United for Immigration Reform

Sep 19, 2014 - LATINO LEADERS PRAISE PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA’S NOMINATION OF MARIA ECHAVESTE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO MEXICO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2014

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 preeminent national Latino organizations, praised President Barack Obama’s announcement nominating Maria Echaveste as United States Ambassador to Mexico at the U.S. Department of State.

In a January 2013 letter urging the President to appoint more Latinos to his Administration, the NHLA recommended Echaveste as one of several Latinos who have served both in the private and public sectors and are highly qualified to serve in top posts in the Obama Administration.

As a Mexican-American born in Texas, Maria Echaveste meets regularly with Mexican political, business and intellectual leaders through her service on the Board of Directors of the U.S.-Mexico Foundation (a NHLA coalition member) and the Advisory Board of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center. She has been actively involved with the U.S.-Mexico Futures Forum sponsored by the Center for Latin American Studies at UC Berkeley. Echaveste has professional experience at the highest levels of government having served as Deputy Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton (1998-2001), Special Representative to Bolivia (2009), and Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor (1993-1997).

In response to the nomination announcement, NHLA leaders released the following remarks:

“Maria Echaveste is an outstanding choice to become United States Ambassador to Mexico,” said Hector Sanchez, NHLA Chair and President of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. “Her previous work in the Clinton Administration, coupled with her strong relationships with national stakeholders and Administration leadership, has given her an understanding of domestic and binational policy priorities that will make her an especially effective advocate for a strong U.S.–Mexico relationship.”

“The U.S. and Mexico relationship is both culturally and economically interdependent,” said Brent Wilkes, LULAC executive director. “The nomination of Maria Echaveste to be the next Ambassador to Mexico is a critical decision which LULAC supports without reservation. If confirmed, Ms. Echaveste will bring the diverse background and keen intellect that the position demands. Her background as deputy chief of staff with the Clinton Administration, and her experience as policy and program development director at the Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute on Law and Social Policy at the University of California's Berkeley Law School, make Ms. Echaveste uniquely qualified for the position. LULAC encourages the Senate to act without partisan delay in confirming Ms. Echaveste, who would serve as the first female U.S. Ambassador to Mexico.”

“This nomination represents a well-deserved capstone in a professional and personal history working to facilitate the bi-national relationship," stated Rebeca Vargas, U.S. Mexico Foundation President and CEO. "Within the Foundation, Ms. Echaveste was one of the founders and drivers of the Mexican American Leadership Initiative (MALI), created to provide Americans of Mexican heritage a mechanism through which to act as a bridge of understanding between U.S. society and Mexico through business and civil society partnerships. Through her work with the USMF, she has not only helped create friendship and ties between societies, but also helped both countries face joint challenges with a sense of shared responsibility and high level of commitment."

"The HNBA commends President Obama's nomination of Maria Echaveste as the next Ambassador of Mexico, where she will be the first woman to serve in that role," said Cynthia D. Mares, Hispanic National Bar Association President. "From her work at the University of California's Berkeley School of Law to her time in public service, she has provided a much-needed voice on social policy impacting Latinos. We urge Congress to move quickly on her nomination."

"Maria Echaveste represents the best of our next generation of American leaders," said Felix Sanchez, National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts Chairman and Co-founder. "Ms. Echaveste's nomination is a move in the right direction for the Obama Administration."

"Farmworker Justice has had the privilege of working with Maria Echaveste in her varied roles in government and the private sector over the years, said Bruce Goldstein, Farmworker Justice President. "She comes from a farmworker background and has never forgotten where she and her parents came from. Maria Echaveste has many skills, extraordinary experience and a great education, as well as many opportunities to choose from, but she has made sure to use those attributes to help farmworkers and their families, some of the most disadvantaged people in this country. The nation will be well-served when the Senate confirms Maria Echaveste as Ambassador to Mexico, which we encourage it to do promptly."

"I have known Maria since we were at Stanford University and worked with her her during our time in the Clinton Administration and know what a valuable and effective leader she would be to this Administration for the position as Ambassador to Mexico," said Elena Rios, MD, MSPH, National Hispanic Medical Association President & CEO.

"Maria is a great appointment and will be an informed Ambassador to Mexico," stated Al Zapanta, U.S.- Mexico Chamber of Commerce President & CEO. "The U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce with eight offices in the U.S and eight in Mexico fully supports her nomination and speedy Senate confirmation."

“Maria Echaveste would, without question, be an ideal U.S. Ambassador to Mexico," said Angelo Falcón, President, National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP), New York. "She has been one of the leading lights in the Latino community, is thoroughly informed of Mexican affairs, is bilingual and has been involved in public service at all levels of government. We couldn’t be happier to see her being nominated to this important position. She is the right person at the right time.”

“Maria is a longtime public servant who has served this country with excellence for more than 20 years,” said Juan Cartagena, President and General Counsel, LatinoJustice PRLDEF. “While in public service, Maria has served in a variety of roles that have well prepared her for this important and critical position. At a time when our relationship with Mexico has taken on such great importance, it is imperative that the congress move quickly to approve this highly qualified Latina.”

"As an organization dedicated to the health and well-being of Latinas, we are thrilled that Maria Echaveste has been nominated for Ambassador to Mexico," stated Jessica González-Rojas Executive Director at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. "Maria is a longtime friend and colleague, and I have full confidence that her leadership and depth of experience make her an excellent choice for this important role. Her deep roots in the Latino community and understanding of the lived experiences of Mexican-American women and families, as well as her considerable skills, will serve her well in this role, and we urge prompt confirmation."

“The nomination of Maria Echaveste to serve as the first Latina Ambassador to Mexico deserves commendation," said Ignacio Salazar, SER-Jobs for Progress National Inc. President and CEO. "Her qualifications and proven track record representing the nation directly on United States–Mexico policy issues, including serving on Board of Directors of the United States-Mexico Foundation and the Advisory Board of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center, stand without question. We fully support Ms. Echaveste and urge the Senate to confirm her nomination."

“We commend President Obama for nominating Maria Echaveste as Ambassador to Mexico,” said Juan Carlos Areán, Senior Director of Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network. "Mrs. Echaveste’s long-held commitment to public service and extensive experience, as well as her investment in policies that strengthen communities, make her an ideal candidate to represent the values of the United States."

# # #

Established in 1991, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) brings together Hispanic 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. Since creating its Latino Appointments Program in January 2013, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda has worked tirelessly to increase the representation of Latinos in the Administration. The coalition is active in calling for the inclusion of Latinos in entry-level to Cabinet-level political appointments. For more information, please visit www.latinoappointments.org and follow @NHLAgenda.

###

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
| Melody Gonzales | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202) 508-6917 |
| Estuardo Rodriguez | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | 202-631-2892 |

NHLA MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS:
American GI Forum | ASPIRA Association, Inc. | Avance | Casa de Esperanza | Cuban American National Council | 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 | National Alliance of Latin American & Caribbean Communities | 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

  • JAN 13, 2015 - NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS URGE CONGRESS TO VOTE NO ON REPEAL OF PRESIDENT'S IMMIGRATION ACTIONS +

    PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION January 13, 2015 Votes on Amendments to Homeland Security funding bill will be included in NHLA’s Congressional Scorecard Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, sent a letter to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives today strongly urging them to vote against the Aderholt, Blackburn, and DeSantis amendments to H.R. 240, the Fiscal Year 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations Act, that would repeal or impede the implementation of President Obama’s administrative actions to address some of the most immediate and damaging flaws in… Read More

  • Dec 4, 2014 - NATIONAL HISPANIC COALITION URGES CONGRESS TO VOTE AGAINST REPEAL OF PRESIDENT'S IMMIGRATION ACTIONS +

    PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION December 4, 2014 NATIONAL HISPANIC COALITION URGES CONGRESS TO VOTE AGAINST REPEAL OF PRESIDENT'S IMMIGRATION ACTIONSVotes on HR 5759 and similar measures will be included in NHLA Congressional Scorecard Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, sent a letter to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday strongly urging them to vote against H.R. 5759, the Executive Amnesty Prevention Act of 2014, and any similar legislation that seeks to repeal President Barack Obama's recent administrative action to provide relief from deportation to parents of U.S.… Read More

  • Dec 3, 2014 - NATIONAL HISPANIC COALITION OPPOSES BILL TO REPEAL PRESIDENT'S ACTION ON IMMIGRATION +

    PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION December 3, 2014 NATIONAL HISPANIC COALITION OPPOSES BILL TO REPEAL PRESIDENT'S ACTION ON IMMIGRATIONBill would prevent relief to families torn apart by deportation Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, strongly opposes H.R. 5759, the Executive Amnesty Prevention Act of 2014, and any similar legislation that seeks to repeal President Barack Obama's recent administrative action to provide relief from deportation to parents of U.S. citizen and legal permanent resident children and would expand eligibility for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. H.R. 5759… Read More

  • Nov 21, 2014 - NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS WELCOME PRESIDENT'S ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ON IMMIGRATION +

    FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION November 21, 2014 NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS WELCOME PRESIDENT'S ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ON IMMIGRATION Coalition Renews Call For Congress to Enact Immigration Reform As Soon As Possible Washington, DC -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, welcomed President Barack Obama's announcement, which he elaborated on in Las Vegas today, to grant affirmative relief from deportation to nearly five million undocumented immigrants, and vowed to continue to advocate for just, humane and inclusive immigration policy in the United States. "We are very pleased that the President is taking action to enable… Read More

  • Nov 20, 2014 - NATIONAL COALITION OF LATINO ORGANIZATIONS WELCOMES PRESIDENT’S ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ON DEPORTATION RELIEF +

    FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION November 20, 2014 NATIONAL COALITION OF LATINO ORGANIZATIONS WELCOMES PRESIDENT’S ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ON DEPORTATION RELIEF Washington, DC – The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, welcomed President Barack Obama’s announcement of his plan to grant affirmative relief from deportation to around five million undocumented immigrants. NHLA has urged the President to take action on deportations throughout the year, lifting the voices of Latino immigrants and family members impacted by the harsh realities of deportation, and making the case for how he could use his administrative authority to provide the broadest… Read More

  • Nov 10, 2014 - NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS CALL FOR CLOSURE OF FAMILY DETENTION CENTERS +

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 10, 2014 NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS CALL FOR CLOSURE OF FAMILY DETENTION CENTERS Government should instead use humane, effective, less costly community-based alternatives Washington, DC -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, is calling on the Obama Administration to close existing family detention centers, scrap plans for opening new ones, and implement alternatives to detention that have proven to be successful and more humane. Most of those held at detention centers are women and children fleeing violence in Central America, and many have survived abuse in their home… Read More

  • Nov 7, 2014 - NATIONAL LATINO ORGANIZATIONS CALL ON SENATE LEADER AND CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS TO PRESS PRESIDENT FOR IMMEDIATE EXECUTIVE ACTION +

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NATIONAL LATINO ORGANIZATIONS CALL ON SENATE LEADER AND CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS TO PRESS PRESIDENT FOR IMMEDIATE EXECUTIVE ACTION With conclusion of mid-term elections, there is no excuse for delaying action to stop deportations that are tearing apart families and communities Washington, DC -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, is calling on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and its natural allies in Congress – the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) – to weigh in strongly with President Barack Obama on the need for affirmative relief from deportation to… Read More

  • Nov 5, 2014 - NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS CALL ON PRESIDENT TO FULFILL PROMISE WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY TO HALT DEPORTATIONS FOR MILLIONS +

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 5, 2014 NATIONAL LATINO LEADERS CALL ON PRESIDENT TO FULFILL PROMISE WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY TO HALT DEPORTATIONS FOR MILLIONS Administrations most recent delay already led to additional 70,000 deportations, tearing apart families and communities Washington, DC -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, calls on President Barack Obama not to delay in fulfilling his promise to grant affirmative relief from deportation to as broad a range of undocumented immigrants as possible. The president, who previously committed to take action before the end of the summer, then said… Read More

  • Oct 8, 2014 - HISPANIC LEADERS CALL ON PRESIDENT TO ALLOW HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR DEFERRED ACTION RECIPIENTS +

    For Immediate Release October 8, 2014 HISPANIC LEADERS CALL ON PRESIDENT TO ALLOW HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR DEFERRED ACTION RECIPIENTS Immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and those who benefit from expanded administrative relief should have access to the programs their taxes pay for Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 39 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, has called on President Barack Obama and HHS Secretary Sylvia Matthews Burwell to restore access to affordable health coverage and care to those enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which the President established… Read More

  • Aug 1, 2014 - NATIONAL HISPANIC COALITION URGES "NO" VOTES ON BORDER SUPPLEMENTAL AND ANTI-DREAMER BILLS +

    PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION August 1, 2014 National Hispanic Coalition Urges "No" Votes on Border Supplemental and anti-DREAMer Bills Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 37 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, released the following statement expressing its strong opposition to the revised border supplemental funding and DACA restriction bills that are scheduled to be considered by the full House tonight. As NHLA made clear to Congress in its July 16 letter and reiterated yesterday, NHLA intends to score votes on such legislation as that being considered in the House today. "The House of… Read More

  • Jul 31, 2014 - NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERS OPPOSE BILL TO BLOCK EXECUTIVE ACTION ON DEPORTATIONS +

    PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION July 31, 2014 National Hispanic Leaders Oppose Bill to Block Executive Action on Deportations Bill would prevent relief to families torn apart by current deportation policies Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 37 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, sent a letter to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives today expressing strong opposition to H.R. 5272, a bill that would block federal agencies from issuing any new policies that defer deportation and would prevent any future grants of work authorization to new recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood… Read More

  • Jul 30, 2014 - NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERS URGE "NO" VOTE ON HOUSE BORDER SUPPLEMENTAL BILL +

    National Hispanic Leaders Urge "No" Vote on House Border Supplemental Bill Rolling back due process rights for vulnerable children is not the answer to the humanitarian situation along the southern border Washington, D.C. -- The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 37 of the nation's preeminent Latino organizations, issued the following statement opposing H.R. 5230, a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to provide supplemental funding for border security and handling the humanitarian situation of increased child migration. The House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 5230 this week, possibly as early as Wednesday. "The… Read More
  • 1
  • 2
› ‹