Dear friends
President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet and White House staff is filling fast, and the appointments are generating attention for their swiftness, diversity, and their implications. MATT.org applauds the appointment of Cecilia Muñoz as Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, which will be of particular interest to supporters of sensible immigration solutions. Whether working for sensible immigration policies or testifying before Congress, Cecilia Muñoz has been a strong, prominent voice on behalf of Hispanic American rights. Described by colleagues as "a ferocious advocate", Muñoz has served as vice president for the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), overseeing all legislative activities that cover key issues for Hispanic Americans.
Born in 1962 in Detroit, Michigan, her parents came to the U.S. from La Paz, Bolivia so that her father, an automotive engineer, could go to the University of Michigan. She holds bachelors degrees in English and Latin Studies from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. As a graduate student, she attended the University of California-Berkeley to complete a Masters in Latin American Studies. Muñoz moved from California to Chicago to work for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago as head of the Legalization Outreach Program for Catholic Charities. After the 1986 enactment by President Ronald Reagan of the Immigration Reform and Control Act—a program that allowed undocumented immigrants who met certain criteria (such as having lived continuously in the United States) to become legal U.S. residents—Muñoz helped more than five thousand immigrants obtain legal citizenship in the United States.
Most recently, Muñoz has served as the Vice President of the Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation at the National Council of La Raza, where she works as an advocate against discrimination, inhumane welfare reform for immigrants, and inhumane immigration policy. Muñoz is an immigration policy expert who has been at the center of the immigration reform debate, helping to craft President-Elect Obama's platform on immigration. She will be a critical ally in the Administration because of her expertise on the immigration issue, her role as Assistant to the President, and as the official responsible for interacting with state and local elected officials and garnering their support for the Administration's initiatives, including immigration reform.
Muñoz brings insight into the immigration debate that includes the cultural, personal, legal, and political aspects of the complex issue. Muñoz has spoken against anti-immigration groups, theorizing that they "try to find out what people in a certain area are concerned about and then try to link those concerns to immigration." In California, she said, immigrants became scapegoats for the troubled economy; in Arizona, rapid growth was their fault. Muñoz believes these unfair attacks often stem from people worrying "about Latinos being culturally different."
Washington is getting the message that immigration is a top priority and that this issue must be addressed both swiftly and thoughtfully. Let's keep the momentum going by showing our support for comprehensive immigration solutions:
Tell five friends and help build the network of immigration reform supporters so that we can make sure our leaders know that immigration reform is a priority.
Donate to be a part of the solution with our public education and grassroots efforts!
View our tv ad and share it on Facebook, MySpace, and with your friends.
Here's more news you can use:
Social Security No-Match delayed
Video: Bill Richardson named Secretary of Commerce
Read our blog for daily news, videos, political cartoons, and more.
To find out more, check out our Immigration Highlights.
Sincerely,
Aracely Garcia-GranadosExecutive DirectorMATT.org"Let's Prosper Together"
Compiled from the following sources: http://action.matt.org/r/902/9057/Notable Hispanic American Women, Gale, 1999; Biography Resource Center, Gale, 2000.
President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet and White House staff is filling fast, and the appointments are generating attention for their swiftness, diversity, and their implications. MATT.org applauds the appointment of Cecilia Muñoz as Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, which will be of particular interest to supporters of sensible immigration solutions. Whether working for sensible immigration policies or testifying before Congress, Cecilia Muñoz has been a strong, prominent voice on behalf of Hispanic American rights. Described by colleagues as "a ferocious advocate", Muñoz has served as vice president for the Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), overseeing all legislative activities that cover key issues for Hispanic Americans.
Born in 1962 in Detroit, Michigan, her parents came to the U.S. from La Paz, Bolivia so that her father, an automotive engineer, could go to the University of Michigan. She holds bachelors degrees in English and Latin Studies from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. As a graduate student, she attended the University of California-Berkeley to complete a Masters in Latin American Studies. Muñoz moved from California to Chicago to work for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago as head of the Legalization Outreach Program for Catholic Charities. After the 1986 enactment by President Ronald Reagan of the Immigration Reform and Control Act—a program that allowed undocumented immigrants who met certain criteria (such as having lived continuously in the United States) to become legal U.S. residents—Muñoz helped more than five thousand immigrants obtain legal citizenship in the United States.
Most recently, Muñoz has served as the Vice President of the Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation at the National Council of La Raza, where she works as an advocate against discrimination, inhumane welfare reform for immigrants, and inhumane immigration policy. Muñoz is an immigration policy expert who has been at the center of the immigration reform debate, helping to craft President-Elect Obama's platform on immigration. She will be a critical ally in the Administration because of her expertise on the immigration issue, her role as Assistant to the President, and as the official responsible for interacting with state and local elected officials and garnering their support for the Administration's initiatives, including immigration reform.
Muñoz brings insight into the immigration debate that includes the cultural, personal, legal, and political aspects of the complex issue. Muñoz has spoken against anti-immigration groups, theorizing that they "try to find out what people in a certain area are concerned about and then try to link those concerns to immigration." In California, she said, immigrants became scapegoats for the troubled economy; in Arizona, rapid growth was their fault. Muñoz believes these unfair attacks often stem from people worrying "about Latinos being culturally different."
Washington is getting the message that immigration is a top priority and that this issue must be addressed both swiftly and thoughtfully. Let's keep the momentum going by showing our support for comprehensive immigration solutions:
Tell five friends and help build the network of immigration reform supporters so that we can make sure our leaders know that immigration reform is a priority.
Donate to be a part of the solution with our public education and grassroots efforts!
View our tv ad and share it on Facebook, MySpace, and with your friends.
Here's more news you can use:
Social Security No-Match delayed
Video: Bill Richardson named Secretary of Commerce
Read our blog for daily news, videos, political cartoons, and more.
To find out more, check out our Immigration Highlights.
Sincerely,
Aracely Garcia-GranadosExecutive DirectorMATT.org"Let's Prosper Together"
Compiled from the following sources: http://action.matt.org/r/902/9057/Notable Hispanic American Women, Gale, 1999; Biography Resource Center, Gale, 2000.
.jpeg)
