Day Laborers’ Statement on Ron Klain’s Departure

(Los Angeles) – Following the announcement of Ron Klain’s departure as White House Chief of Staff, Pablo Alvarado released the following statement:

“Something’s missing from Ron Klain’s resignation letter. The departing White House chief of staff bragged about the administration’s handling of things including the economy, COVID, student debt and “marijuana reform.” But Klain’s victory lap was premature, and his list had a huge gap. It said nothing about President Biden’s performance on immigrant rights. It was silent about the inhumane and unjust treatment of migrants at the border and in the interior of the country. There was not a word about honoring our country’s legal and moral obligations to asylum seekers, or seeking relief for 11 million immigrants living here outside the law.

Klain said Biden’s White House needs “fresh leadership.” At least he’s right about that! For years immigrants in this so-called “nation of immigrants” have been a political after thought — or a target of derision, hatred, scapegoating, and violence. Legislative reform efforts have died. Defenders of immigrants are silenced or absent from the halls of power. “Border security” has replaced “immigration reform” as a talking point for Democrats and Republicans alike.

Just this month, President Biden went to El Paso and forgot about the xenophobic massacre of Latinos there.

In two weeks the President will give his State of the Union address. We know he’s going to boast and make promises — that’s what those speeches are for. So let him boast — let him talk about the new whistleblower protections that his Homeland Security Secretary just announced for immigrant workers who are robbed and exploited on the job. Let him promise, in the short two years he has left, to give immigrants and the issue of immigration the attention and respect they deserve and demand. What can be more important than opposing the forces of nativism and fascism, who are on the march — and even seated on Congressional committees? What is more urgent than defending the people who are in the crosshairs of racist bigotry and hate?

We hope Ronald Klain’s successor will urge President Biden to wake up, speak up and stand up for immigrants, and to finally deliver something the White House can see fit to brag about.”

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