Angélica Salas has been in the fight for immigration reform for nearly three decades through the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights ( CHIRLA ).
“We don’t give up. Year after year, we’ve been fighting for immigration reform, and we will persist at the federal level until it’s achieved to recognize our people,” says Angélica, who started as a volunteer at CHIRLA in 1995 and became its director four years later.
“When I began, there were 7 of us on the team; today, we have 11 offices in different parts of California, in Washington, D.C., and in Tapachula and Mexico City.”
She explains that in Mexico, they work with immigrants to provide them with accurate information before they reach the U.S. border.
Angélica Salas has been in the fight for immigration reform for nearly three decades through the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA).
“We want to help them make decisions that protect their lives,” she says.
This leader, born in Durango, Mexico, but who came to the United States as a child, considers it unjust that there has been no immigration reform since the Amnesty of 1986, which legalized nearly three million immigrants, including her parents and several family members.
“Many people, including some of my relatives, were left out because to qualify for the Amnesty, you had to have been in the country since 1982 and worked in agriculture,” says Angélica, who recalls that her family and she came to this country as undocumented immigrants.
“I feel a great sense of pride because we’ve been able to change California into what it is today.”
But she recounts that after that massive legalization of immigrants, the law was hardened in 1996 to prevent people from accessing family petitions, imposing 10-year penalties for being undocumented.
Angélica acknowledges that she feels angry about the lack of action on immigration.
“It’s a great injustice that this country does not recognize all the economic contributions and the sacrifices of migrant workers. We are talking about millions of people who have been in this country for 20, 30 years without being able to fix their immigration status, even though they have children who can petition for them, but they are limited by immigration penalties. It’s a very difficult situation. But the saddest part is that many of them are aging without any relief options.”
Despite the frustrated fight for immigration reform, significant progress has been made for immigrants in California.
“I feel a great sense of pride because we’ve been able to change California into what it is today. We obtained scholarships for young people to attend college, driver’s licenses, access to medical care for undocumented people, and AB540, which allows them to pay the same university tuition as residents.”
They also achieved the Trust Act and the California Values Act, better known as the Sanctuary State Law, which prevents police from cooperating with immigration authorities.
“All these laws have changed the state because we used to deport the most. It’s a great achievement.”
Angélica recognizes that these advances for the immigrant community in California are the result of the collective efforts of pro-immigrant organizations, including CHIRLA.
“We have worked and fought hard to change California and build power for immigrants.”
One very positive outcome, she says, is that the government has invested millions of dollars in providing free legal services throughout California through organizations like the Todec Legal Center, CHIRLA, and Carecen.
“With government support, we help immigrants become citizens and fix their immigration status for free.”
All of this, she claims, has taken decades. “Many times, the laws blocked us, year after year, but in the last 10 years, we began to reap the rewards.”
Currently, at the state level, they are pushing for AB 1536 to become law, a measure to include undocumented immigrants over the age of 65 or with disabilities in the CAPI program to receive cash assistance.
Angélica recognizes that these advances for the immigrant community in California are the result of the collective efforts of pro-immigrant organizations, including CHIRLA. Here with State Senator Maria Elena Durazo.
“We want our immigrants to age with dignity and not in complete poverty, and we want the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) to be open to include elderly and disabled undocumented individuals in California.”
The Registration Proposal
Angélica Salas reveals that while they want comprehensive immigration reform and to change family petitions, they currently have a federal proposal, the Registration Act, which would make it easier for immigrants to petition for residency and subsequently citizenship.
“To qualify, you would need to have good moral character, not have committed any crimes, and if you’ve been here for 7 years, you should be able to petition. The only thing is that Congress needs to update the Registration Act.”
How difficult could it be for this bill to pass in Congress?
“We already have 69 members co-sponsoring it.”
The proposal, introduced by Senator Alex Padilla on June 28, would update the Registration date for the first time in 37 years, making more immigrants eligible to apply for permanent residency.
The Registration is a section of immigration law that allows certain individuals who have been present in the United States since January 1, 1972, to apply for a green card (permanent residency), even if they are currently in the U.S. without immigration status.
Angélica laments the lack of willingness to adjust the immigration status of undocumented individuals.
“They haven’t done it because they benefit from cheap labor. This way, they are not responsible for their social welfare and their needs as workers. Without status, they can exploit people. There is a lot of convenience behind not giving them immigration reform.”
She also says that both Democrats and Republicans feel there is no political loss because immigrants cannot vote.
“They forget that they have children who are citizens. There are millions who will demand at the polls what they didn’t do for their families.”
“I still remember how happy my uncles and aunts were, saying, ‘Now I can finally buy my own house.’ The 1986 Amnesty was transformative for my family.”
This immigrant leader is clear that it is very important to keep fighting, although she acknowledges that many immigrants are tired and disappointed. “They ask us to do the groundwork, convince the politicians, and when we are ready, they will join us.”
Angélica is convinced that “a fight not fought is a fight not won.”
And she truly believes that updating the Registration is a straightforward proposal that can be achieved, even though it was not voted on last year due to internal Democratic party disagreements.
“I still remember how happy my uncles and aunts were, saying, ‘Now I can finally buy my own house.’ The 1986 Amnesty was transformative for my family.”
“We were so close, but it fell apart because of disagreements. But we are educating Congress. Many don’t know that the Registration exists or how it works.”
That’s why she has faith that before the 40th anniversary of the 1986 amnesty, a new immigration reform will be achieved. “In 2026, it will have been four decades.”
What motivates you to get up every morning?
“My own family and seeing the contagious commitment of immigrants who volunteer at CHIRLA move me.”
And she recalls that she started as an advocate, motivated because she helped her entire family fill out the forms for their residency under Reagan’s Amnesty.
“I still remember how happy my uncles and aunts were, saying, ‘Now I can finally buy my own house.’ The 1986 Amnesty was transformative for my family.”
But she still sees the suffering in those who couldn’t adjust their status and have waited for years for immigration reform, as well as the families that have been separated. “I see many who cannot travel to their countries when their parents are dying, and they ask me whether to go or stay. What can I tell them, except that it’s very difficult to go back.”
Asylum Seekers
CHIRLA is part of the L.A. Welcome Collective, a network of pro-immigrant organizations that, in coordination with the city of Los Angeles, has received 8 buses of asylum seekers from Texas since June.
The latest truck arrived on August 17. In total, Los Angeles has received 323 asylum seekers from Central and South America, many of them minors and even a nine-month-old baby.
“Most of them have stayed in the state. We have created a support network to help them connect with their families in the United States. There are around 46 who don’t have sponsors, and we’ve offered to help find them housing.”
She adds that California has shown the rest of the country what it means to organize to help asylum seekers.
Angélica ended the interview with Parriva with some good news: “We have received a grant to buy our own building, which we will call the Empowerment and Welcome Center.”
