Immigration advocacy group launches political arm to counter Trump agenda

A top immigration advocacy group announced on Tuesday a new political arm to highlight the human consequences of the incoming Trump administration’s immigration enforcement plans.

The Immigration Hub, a non-profit policy group that’s toed the line between being critical of the Biden White House and playing an advisory role to the administration, will enter the political fray with its Catalyze/Citizens (C/C) arm.

“Donald Trump’s re-election is not a mandate for cruelty – it is under this premise that I am proud to lead an incredible team of experts in using every lever and tool to ensure that we can defeat or reduce the harm posed under the new Congress and a Trump administration,” said Beatriz Lopez, co-executive director of the Immigration Hub and C/C.

Until Tuesday’s announcement, Lopez was deputy director of the Immigration Hub under Executive Director Kerri Talbot, who will remain as co-executive director of the organizations.

The launch was first reported by Politico.

In September, the Immigration Hub launched a one-stop-shop compilation of immigration data, looking to build substance for a politically-winning pro-immigration message for Democrats.

Immigrant advocates have long been clamoring for Democrats to focus their message on the economic and human benefits of immigration, providing a real counter to the restrictionist stance espoused by President-elect Trump.

But many Democratic campaigns and officials have taken a Trump-light stance on border security, conceding substantial ground on where the immigration conversation should be framed.

“The past decade has marked a dangerous shift: the mainstreaming of authoritarian ideology and the systematic spread of anti-immigrant narratives. Never before has the weaponization of immigration posed such a direct threat to American democracy, our core values, and public safety,” said Lopez.

According to the group, C/C will also seek to broaden the scope of immigration advocacy to include anti-disinformation and AI policy campaigns, elevating the link between anti-immigrant sentiment and political extremism.

“Together, the Hub and its new advocacy arm understand that the strongest response to Trump and anti-immigrant voices is a bold vision for a resilient, vibrant immigration system that recognizes the strength of aspiring citizens, keeps families safe and together, and stands tall with our democracy,” said Lopez.

The Hub’s shift into the political space comes as the immigrant advocacy movement writ large is dealing with an identity crisis following decades of legislative setbacks and snubs by Democratic leadership, coupled with open opposition from the GOP.

A review of immigration ad spending in the 2024 election cycle by The Hub and AdImpact found that Republicans outspent Democrats five to one on immigration related ads, and “largely all Democratic ads focused on border security, with only a handful messaging on a pathway to citizenship.”

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