On Tuesday, a prominent immigration advocacy organization unveiled a new political division aimed at highlighting the human impact of the incoming Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
The Immigration Hub, a nonprofit policy group that has balanced criticism of the Biden White House while advising on immigration issues, introduced its new political arm, Catalyze/Citizens.
Beatriz Lopez, co-executive director of the Immigration Hub and Catalyze/Citizens, emphasized that Donald Trump’s potential re-election should not be seen as a mandate for cruelty. “I am proud to lead a team of experts working to reduce the harm that a new Congress and a Trump administration may bring,” she said.
Until now, Lopez served as deputy director of the Immigration Hub, working under Executive Director Kerri Talbot, who will remain co-executive director alongside Lopez in the new structure. The launch of the new arm was first reported by Politico.
The Immigration Hub has previously taken steps to advance pro-immigration policies. In September, it launched a comprehensive database of immigration data aimed at crafting a pro-immigration message that could resonate politically with Democrats.
Advocates have long urged Democrats to focus on the economic and human benefits of immigration, pushing back against the restrictive immigration policies promoted by President-elect Trump. However, many Democratic leaders have adopted a softer stance on border security, often compromising on the framing of the immigration debate.
Lopez spoke about the growing challenge of anti-immigrant rhetoric, stating, “The past decade has seen a dangerous rise in authoritarian ideas and anti-immigrant narratives. The weaponization of immigration now threatens American democracy and our core values.”
The new Catalyze/Citizens initiative will also expand its focus to include campaigns against misinformation and artificial intelligence policies. The group aims to draw a direct connection between anti-immigrant sentiment and political extremism.
“We believe the strongest response to Trump and anti-immigrant rhetoric is a bold vision for an immigration system that values aspiring citizens, keeps families united, and stands firm for democracy,” Lopez added.
The Immigration Hub’s entry into the political arena comes at a time when the broader immigrant advocacy movement is grappling with its role after years of legislative setbacks and lack of support from Democratic leaders, alongside fierce opposition from Republicans.
A recent analysis of immigration-related ad spending in the 2024 election cycle, conducted by the Immigration Hub and AdImpact, revealed that Republicans outspent Democrats by a ratio of 5-to-1. Most Democratic ads focused on border security, with only a few addressing issues like a pathway to citizenship.
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