Domingo Garcia, a practicing civil rights attorney from Dallas, Texas and lifetime social justice advocate who pledged to make immigration reform, assistance for veterans and seniors plus tuition-free higher education his top priorities was elected to be the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) national president Sunday at the organization’s 89th Annual Convention.
“This is the moment in our nation’s history when we must confront and overcome the greatest challenges facing our country to ensure that justice and liberty rings true for all, not just some,” stated Garcia. “We must never forget that the greatness of our union has been forged from the strengths of all immigrants who arrived upon our shores and the price to maintain our freedoms has been redeemed with their blood, sacrifice and lives,” he added.
Garcia is a former Texas lawmaker who served as the youngest Mayor Pro Tem ever elected in one of America’s largest cities and author of the state’s DACA laws, the first in the nation and the template for the DACA protections enacted through Executive Order by President Barack Obama.
“It is up to us now as the fastest growing community in the United States to mobilize, register to vote and have our voices heard at the ballot box, both this November during the critical midterms and in 2020 when we decide what kind of an America we want for our future and that of generations that will follow,” stated Garcia
Garcia outlined his platform which includes growing the membership, expanding the organization’s budget to support local LULAC Council programs and increased emphasis on developing the youth, young adult and collegiate components to ensure their future opportunities.
LULAC Selects First Generation Immigrant as Next CEO
Sindy Marisol Benavides, a Honduran immigrant who came to the United States at the age of one and grew up to become a life-long champion of social justice and civil rights has been named Chief Executive Officer of the League of United Latin American Citizens, the first Latina woman to hold that position in the organization’s 89-year history.
“I feel humbled and honored to serve in a capacity for which I have prepared my entire life,” said Benavides. “Everything I’ve had the opportunity to live, learn, see and do enables me to now take on this responsibility with a sense of urgency, strong personal commitment and determined resolve that we must fight and prevail against the enormous challenges Latinos are facing in our country,” she adds.
Among her notable career achievements, Benavides served on the Democratic National Committee as Director of National Community Outreach, a role she performed as the only Latina senior staff member at the DNC. She also held key positions for Virginia Governor Tim Kaine who was later selected as the Democratic Vice-Presidential Candidate in 2016. Her grassroots experience began by leading community organizing, voter registration, civic engagement and advocating for social justice and civil rights in Virginia and then carrying her experience to neighborhoods throughout the nation.
