IMMIGRANT-RIGHTS LEADER AND ORGANIZER ERIKA ANDIOLA JOINS NDLON AS POLITICAL DIRECTOR

LOS ANGELES, March 18 – The National Day Laborer Organizing Network announced today that Erika Andiola, the longtime immigrant-rights leader, advocate and organizer from Arizona, has joined NDLON as Political Director.

Andiola has worked for years to deliver justice for immigrants, particularly Dreamers and unaccompanied migrant children. A Dreamer herself, she was one of the early national leaders in the successful movement to win protection for undocumented young people through DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. She previously worked for the nonprofit organization RAICES, which provides legal and social services to immigrants and refugees, as chief advocacy officer and host of its podcast, Homeland Insecurity. Andiola also served as political director for the progressive organizing group Our Revolution and as press secretary for Latino Outreach for Senator Bernie Sanders’s 2016 Presidential campaign.

“I’m excited to join NDLON because this work is incredibly important right now,” said Andiola. “As the immigrant community is being attacked left and right, this is the moment to have all hands on deck. To NDLON, to immigrant workers and undocumented families – you are fighting on the front lines and I want to fight with you.”

“This is deeply personal to me,” said Andiola, who immigrated as a child from Durango, Mexico, to Mesa, Arizona, where she later co-founded the Dream Action Coalition and served as president of the Arizona Dream Act Coalition. “My own history and family have guided me on my life’s mission – to build immigrant power and give back to our community.”

Pablo Alvarado, Co-Executive Director of NDLON, said: “Above all, NDLON values hard work, and Erika has worked hard her entire life to advance the rights of our community. She has always been generous with her support of day laborers. Erika is a visionary immigrant rights leader, a gifted communicator and a keen political strategist. But among her many traits, we admire her courage above all. In a time that is characterized by courage versus fear. Our courage versus their fear, we are grateful to absorb, learn from, and demonstrate Erika’s courage.”

Chris Newman, NDLON’s Legal Director, said: “When we first met Erika in 2010, we were warning against the Arizonification of the country – the way Arizona’s anti-immigrant laws and demagogues like Sheriff Joe Arpaio were spreading their influence nationwide. Arizonans, including civil-rights leaders like Erika, did incredible work to turn the tide against Arpaio, defeating the racist SB1070, and changing the political landscape of that state. We know Erika will bring her experience to the national stage in the years ahead. Despite the awfulness of the moment, we will turn the tide on Trumpism, we are on the right side of history – and we are excited that Erika will be there with us.”