A recording of the event is available here: Video link
Washington, DC — (May 3, 2024) — Today at the National Press Club, five organizations — Voto Latino, Unidos US Action Fund, Mi Familia Vota, Latino Victory Project, and America’s Voice — came together to announce that they are forming a union to jointly combat the threat that twice-impeached former president Donald Trump represents to Latinos and to our entire nation.
This union of the leading civil, immigrant rights, and political get-out-the-vote organizations publicly announced a commitment to cumulatively invest more than $50 million in this year’s election.
Additionally, Voto Latino revealed the topline results of a series of April focus groups with disengaged Latino registered voters, which found that there is an opportunity to motivate participants through education about the issues on the ballot.
During the event, leaders from each organization shared their views on the threat posed by Trump:
Voto Latino President and CEO María Teresa Kumar:
When Latino voters understand exactly what is on the ballot, a sizable majority will vote for democracy. When we show how the issues they care about — immigration, abortion, the safety of them and their families — will be affected, they will understand exactly what’s at stake this year. And that’s why we are announcing today that our groups together intend to invest more than $50 million in this year’s election. We are putting everything we have behind this effort. Because this year, our self-determination, our freedom, our safety, everything is on the line. In his four years in the White House, Trump did what he promised: unleashing hatred and suffering. In 2020, we did what we promised: assembling a powerful coalition that kicked him out of office. As Trump escalates, so will we. We’re going to defeat him again.
UnidosUS Action Fund President Janet Murguia:
Trump’s proposals are cruel, draconian, unconstitutional, and a violation of the spirit and values of our great nation. And they will exacerbate the target Trump placed on the backs of Latinos in his first term, which led to untold suffering, harassment, and even violence. We as Latino leaders are deeply concerned and united in fighting the demonization of, and attacks on, our community. And our community, many of whom know the stranglehold of countries with authoritarian dictatorships, need to raise the alarm about policies that will make all Americans unsafe and less free.”
Mi Familia Vota President and CEO Héctor Sánchez Barba:
When Donald Trump says that he wants to carry out a deportation operation designed to remove 11 million people from the country and threatens to build migrant detention camps at the border, we should believe him. When he says that he would let red states monitor women’s pregnancies and prosecute those who violate abortion bans, we should believe him. Latinos know that MAGA is bad for our communities and that Donald Trump’s policy proposals would be a disaster for our country. We will organize, we will register our community to vote, and we will turn out against Trump’s clear threat to our democracy.
Latino Victory Project President & CEO Sindy Benavides:
We will repeat this until Election Day: Trump’s a threat to Latinos and he does not care a grain of salt about us. Believe Trump when he says he will unleash a mass deportation campaign and put forth policies that harm our communities. He’s not hiding it anymore—he’s a racist and fascist with an unhinged policy agenda that will set back our hard-fought civil rights for decades. If we let him, he’ll torch our basic human rights, including freedom of speech, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, and voter rights, which are the pillars of a free and fair democracy. One thing is clear: Trump and MAGA extremists will stop at nothing to win this election, and Latinos cannot afford to sit on the sidelines. It’s time to stand up and build an impenetrable barrier between Trump and the White House. The future and safety of Latinos, immigrants and all vulnerable communities hang on the line—and we have the power to protect them. The stakes are high in November which is why we urge Latinos to use their voice and vote to protect our families and communities.
America’s Voice Executive Director Vanessa Cárdenas:
Time and time again, the Trump campaign has made it clear that its goal is to deport and forcibly remove more than 11 million people from the U.S. This is not about the border. Trump is going after everyone. Dreamers, TPS holders, people who overstayed visas – anyone undocumented, even though most have lived in the U.S. for more than a decade. Trump has no solutions to the urgent problem of our broken immigration system, just fear-mongering. The impact of his agenda goes way beyond immigrant communities and would break up our families, harm our communities, and create havoc in our economy. Trump is being clear about his vision, and we must be clear about what that vision really means for American communities.
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About Voto Latino
Voto Latino is a grassroots civic engagement organization focused on educating and empowering a new generation of Latino voters, as well as creating a more robust and inclusive democracy. Through innovative digital campaigns, culturally relevant programs and authentic voices, we shepherd the Latino community towards the full realization of its political power.
About UnidosUS Action Fund
UnidosUS Action Fund President Janet Murguia is the President/CEO of UnidosUS. The Executive Director, Rafael Collazo, manages the day-to-day operations of its sister 501C4 organization, UnidosUS Action Fund (UUAF). This work is supported by a strong team composed of members of the UnidosUS organization, including two policy experts, a legislative team, state/field leads, and communications support. Furthermore, our mission counts on the support of a national affiliate network of 288 partner organizations that provide direct services and advocate for the community. Many of these organizations have sister c4s that can also partner with UUAF. We also work with a network of national partners, including Mi Familia Vota and Latino Victory Fund, and are active participants in state c4 tables.
About Mi Familia Vota
The mission of Mi Familia Vota is to advance the political priorities of the Latino community, mobilizing Latino power, through year-round activation of the electorate and investment in local infrastructure.
Mi Familia en Acción’s mission is to build Latino power, through community activation and year-round investment in local infrastructure, to advance our priorities. Both organizations are in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina and Texas, and are expanding to Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.
About Latino Victory Project
Latino Victory Project, a 501(c)(4), develops leaders for public office and works to harness the Latino community’s power so that the voices of Latinos are included in the policies that move our country forward. Latino Victory Project engages Latino voters to support leaders that reflect and advance Latino values, which are American values, including good-paying jobs, immigration reform, quality education, a clean environment, amongst other key issues.
About America’s Voice
The mission of America’s Voice (AV) and America’s Voice Education Fund (AVEF) is to build the public support and the political will needed to enact policy changes that secure freedom and opportunity for immigrants in America. Priority goal: win reforms that put 11 million undocumented Americans on a path to full citizenship.
