Latinos United for Immigration Reform

Jun 17, 2014 - LATINO LEADERS RELEASE LETTERS TO SENATE URGING CONFIRMATION OF PENDING LATINO NOMINEES

PRESS RELEASE
June 17, 2014

LATINO LEADERS RELEASE LETTERS TO SENATE URGING CONFIRMATION OF PENDING LATINO NOMINEES

At Least Fourteen Latino Candidates are Currently Awaiting Action by the U.S. Senate, With Some Nomination Wait Times Running as Long as 1,188 Days

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of the 37 preeminent national Latino organizations in the country, sent a letter (which can be viewed here) urging Senate leaders Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell to speed the pace of a confirmation process that has caused numerous delays (in some cases up to 1,188 days) for Latinos nominated to federal appointments.

In the letter the coalition urges Senators to move forward the following fourteen Latinos known to be pending non-judicial Senate-confirmed positions:

• Candidates Awaiting Committee Hearing

o Carlos Pascual, of the District of Columbia, Nominated Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, U.S. Department of State. [Received in the Senate: February 17, 2012. Days pending: 852.]

• Candidates Pending Committee Vote

o Julian Castro, of Texas, Nominated Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. [Received in the Senate: June 02, 2014. Days pending: 16.]

o Estevan R. Lopez, of New Mexico, Nominated Commissioner of Reclamation, Department of Interior. [Received in the Senate: March 10, 2014. Days pending: 100.]

o Victor M. Mendez, of Arizona, Nominated Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. [Received in the Senate: May 15, 2014. Days pending: 34.]

• Candidates Pending Final Confirmation Vote (ranked by number of days pending in the Senate)

o Juan Carlos Iturregui, of Maryland, Nominated Member, Board of Directors, Inter-American Foundation. [Received in the Senate: February 27, 2014. Days pending: 111.]

o Annette Joanne Taddeo-Goldstein, of Florida, Nominated Member, Board of Directors, Inter-American Foundation. [Received in the Senate: February 27, 2014. Days pending: 111.]

o Mileydi Guilarte, of the District of Columbia, Nominated United States Alternate Executive Director, Inter-American Development Bank. [Received in the Senate: January 30, 2014. Days pending: 139.]

o Gustavo Velasquez Aguilar, of the District of Columbia, Nominated Assistant Secretary of the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. [Received in the Senate: January 16, 2014. On the calendar for a final vote this week. Days pending: 153.]

o Leon Rodriguez, of Maryland, Nominated Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office at the Department of Homeland Security. [Received in the Senate: January 07, 2014. Days pending: 162.]

o Alfredo Julio Balsera, of Florida, Nominated Member, United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy. [Received in the Senate: January 06, 2014. Days pending: 163.]

o Arnold Chacon, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Director General of the Foreign Service at the Department of State. [Received in the Senate: October 07, 2013. Days pending: 254.]

o David Joseph Arroyo, of New York, Nominated Member, Board of Directors, Corporation for Public Broadcasting. [Received in the Senate: September 17, 2013. Days pending: 274.]

o Luis G. Moreno, of Texas, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Jamaica. [Received in the Senate: September 11, 2013. Days pending: 280.]

o Myrna Perez, of Texas, Nominated Commissioner, Election Assistance Commission. [Received in the Senate: March 17, 2011. Days pending: 1,189.]

NHLA also released letters regarding two nominees who are before the Senate this week:

• Click here to view NHLA’s letter supporting Julian Castro, nominated Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Castro’s nomination hearing was held earlier today, June 17th, in the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Development Committee.

• Click here to view NHLA’s letter supporting Gustavo Velasquez, nominated Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Velasquez is on the calendar for a final confirmation vote by the U.S. Senate this week.

In each of the letters, NHLA notes its intent to score all votes associated with Latino nominations requiring Senate confirmation in the NHLA Congressional Scorecard on the 113th Congress. The Scorecard will rate Members of Congress on votes taken in the House and Senate that the NHLA membership deems important to the social, economic, and political advancement and quality of life of Latinos in the U.S.

These actions are driven by NHLA's Latino Appointment Program, the coalition’s historic effort launched in 2013 to substantially increase the representation of Latinos in the President’s administration and in state-level appointments.

These actions are also organized in tandem with efforts to increase Latino representation in the federal career workforce led by NHLA’s Government Accountability Committee, which recently led to the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding between NHLA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture designed to address a range of policies, programs, personnel and partnerships that specifically impact the Latino community.

  • 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
› ‹