by STAFF The new haven independent
A long-time city immigrant rights advocate and civic leader will soon take the helm of a law center focused on fighting for low-income immigrants across the country.
That’s according to an email press release put out by the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) on Wednesday.
The press release states that Fair Havener and former top City Hall and Junta for Progressive Action official Kica Matos will step into the role of president of the NILC and of the NILC Immigration Justice Fund in May.
Matos previously served as the organizations’ vice president of programs and strategy as of January. Before that, she worked as the vice president of initiatives at the Vera Institute of Justice.
“I am honored to be appointed president of NILC and IJF and to lead the organizations at a pivotal time not only in the immigrant rights movement, but in the history of our nation,” Matos is quoted as saying in the release. “Immigrants are vital to our country yet are too often the targets of politically motivated attacks and systemic injustices. … With the amazing staff at NILC and IJF, I will continue to fight for the rights of immigrant communities and help build a nation where all of us, regardless of how much money we have, what we look like, or where we were born, have the freedom to thrive.”