"People Have to Be At the Center of Our Policy"

The Biden Harris administration has pledged immigration as a primary value in the first 100 days including, ending the mismanagement of the asylum system, the caging of children at the border, and protecting Dreamers and their families. Immigration activists and advocates have long made the case that a comprehensive path to citizenship for all immigrants who desire it.   

Diana Pliego works at the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) as a policy associate in NILC’s DC office. In her role, she works on a range of issues, including protection for DACA recipients and fighting immigration enforcement. She conducts policy research, analyzes and tracks legislation, and develops materials for movement and field partners as well as for congressional advocacy. As an immigrant with a passion for social justice, Diana designed her Bachelor’s degree at Columbia College in Community and Policy Advocacy. While in undergrad, she helped found a grassroots organization called Young Immigrants in Action (YIA) in South Carolina. She organized and trained young immigrants from across the state to advocate for themselves and their communities. Since then she has worked on federal policy for a faith-based social justice lobby and as a campaign field organizer before continuing her work on immigrants’ rights at NILC. She also currently serves on the board of National Justice for our Neighbors, a network of legal service sites that provide free or low-cost, faith-based immigration legal services to low-income immigrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers.     

Twitter: @dianappliego

Sara Benitez directs the organizing department at Faith in Public Life where she works to empower clergy and lay leaders of all faith traditions to lead in their communities and promote their values. She is frequently humbled by the many faith leaders who selflessly serve and mobilize their communities for social justice.

Twitter: @faithpubliclife and @sarahstoryteller