On this episode of the Immigration Today! podcast with Angeline Chen, meet Angelica Salas, the Executive Director of the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights also known as CHIRLA. From 1999 to now, she has transformed CHIRLA into one of the nation’s largest and most effective immigrant rights organizations. CHIRLA is a mass membership immigrant-led organization that empowers immigrants and their families to win local, state, and national policies that advance their human, civil, and labor rights. Among her achievements include: winning in-state, financial aid, and grant programs for California’s undocumented students, winning drivers’ licenses for undocumented drivers, decoupling local police departments from immigration enforcement, and winning Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
Angelica is an immigrant from Durango, Mexico, and came to the United States as a child to reunite with her parents. She comes to her understanding of immigrants and immigration first hand. She and her entire family lived in the country undocumented, experienced deportation, and were able to legalize their status. In 2008, she became a U.S. citizen.
“When you really think about family separation, just think about your kids and ask, ‘How long could I be away from my children? What would I be willing to risk for them?’ And all of a sudden, the answer is…anything.”
I have had the pleasure of knowing Angelica through the YWCA Pasadena, where she was a recipient of the Women for Racial Justice Award at the annual breakfast and has been a valuable supporter of the YWCA. I am truly inspired by her leadership, voice, and unstoppable drive to help immigrants.
Learn more about CHIRLA and how you can help at www.CHIRLA.org and on IG @chirla_org.
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DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests or Clark Hill PLC. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.