29 AUG 2023
Immigration Hub Announces Kerri Talbot as New Executive Director and the Hub’s Leadership Team
Talbot is joined by an executive leadership team that includes new Deputy Director Beatriz Lopez, Chief Managing Officer Monica Barrera, and Chief Advocacy Officer Lia Parada
Washington, D.C. – As first reported by The Hill, the Immigration Hub, a leading organization in the fight for fair and just immigration policies, announced today that Kerri Talbot will become the new Executive Director of the organization. Talbot helped to establish the Immigration Hub in early 2017 and replaces Sergio Gonzales, who has been tapped by Vice President Kamala Harris as her new Senior Advisor for the Biden-Harris re-election campaign.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to be named the Executive Director,” stated Talbot. “In partnership with a strong and seasoned executive leadership team, talented staff and allied organizations throughout the country, I look forward to continuing our collective work to advance humane immigration policy reforms that allow families to thrive in our country. We strongly believe that when we do right by our nation’s immigrants, we do right by our nation. As I step into this role – previously held by my incredible predecessors Sergio Gonzales and Tyler Moran – I am committed to advocating for new avenues to ensure that Dreamers and long-settled immigrant families in the U.S. can remain with their loved ones and continue to live, work, study and serve in the country they’ve long called home.”
Beatriz Lopez, who has worked as the Chief Communications and Political Officer at the Immigration Hub for the last five years, will serve alongside Talbot as the new Deputy Director of the organization. Lopez stated, “The Immigration Hub has long invested in the talent of rising leaders, and I am grateful and honored to have always received that confidence. I look forward to continuing to leverage our collective expertise and innovative research to move us forward on the issue of immigration. For far too long, immigrants in America have stood in the crossfires of antiquated political debates and xenophobic attacks. With high stakes in 2024, I am excited to work with an incredible team of experts to ensure our present and future leaders are committed to fixing our immigration system by centering the very people who have long contributed to our nation — Dreamers, farm workers, educators, health care workers, domestic workers, and the many families who make our economy and communities stronger every day.”
The Immigration Hub’s all-women leadership team also includes Monica Barrera, as Chief Managing Officer, and Lia Parada, as Chief Advocacy Officer. Barrera, with deep experience in building partnerships and coalitions, is a former Senior Policy Advisor to Senators Bob Menendez and Harry Reid and has been with the Immigration Hub since its founding year in 2017. Parada, who was recently promoted to the Hub’s Senior Leadership Team, is a veteran of immigration campaigns and has extensive legislative and policy experience. She previously worked at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Center for American Progress and as an aide to former Representative Xavier Becerra.
Kerri Talbot Bio:
Before her promotion to Executive Director, Kerri Talbot, J.D., served as the Deputy Director for the Immigration Hub where she worked with non-profit organizations and Congress on policy and legislative advocacy to promote fair and humane treatment of immigrants and refugees. Prior to the Immigration Hub, Kerri was a Partner at the Veng Group where she assisted non-profit organizations and businesses with immigration policy advocacy. Kerri previously served as Chief Counsel for U.S. Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey for five years. She staffed the Senator on the Gang of 8 and assisted in writing the comprehensive immigration reform bill that passed the Senate in 2013. Before that, Kerri worked at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Rights Working Group, Break the Chain Campaign, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, and Physicians for Human Rights. She graduated from Harvard Law School and Tufts University.
Beatriz Lopez Bio:
Prior to her Deputy Director promotion, Beatriz Lopez was the Hub’s Chief Political and Communications Officer. She develops political and communications strategies to drive pro-immigrant narratives, persuade the electorate and generate innovative research to strengthen messaging and digital tactics for diverse stakeholders. Previously, she was the Managing Director of Communications for the Center for American Progress (CAP) Action Fund. Prior to her time at CAP, Beatriz was the Assistant Communications Director for the Service Employees International Union’s (SEIU) immigration and Latino vote program, where she played an integral role in launching a new, innovative digital model for the union, called iAmerica and iAmerica Action, to galvanize key voters of color and educate immigrant communities on fundamental policies. Formerly, she led the Latino and labor outreach efforts for the Florida Association of Planned Parenthood and Public Citizen, respectively. Beatriz is a graduate of Pace University and former Peace Corps (El Salvador) volunteer and trainer.
Monica Barrera Bio:
Monica is Hub's Chief Managing officer and leads the Hub’s strategic organizational planning efforts. As part of the executive leadership team, she helps drive the organization’s overall strategy and oversees the Hub’s leadership development programs. In her previous role as the Hub’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, she led efforts to cultivate and strengthen partnerships in and outside of the immigrants' rights movement to leverage a broader base of support for pro-immigrant policies. Prior to joining the Hub, Monica served as a senior advisor to Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid on legislative and policy developments impacting Latino and AAPI communities, including immigration policy. Monica also served as the Senior Policy Advisor for Latino Affairs to Senator Bob Menendez in the years during and following the establishment of DACA and the Senate fight to pass comprehensive immigration reform. She began her work on Capitol Hill as a postgraduate legislative fellow in the office of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard and has worked in DC on policy advocacy benefiting immigrant communities for more than a decade. Prior to moving to Washington, D.C., Monica worked at the Women of Color Policy Network at NYU Wagner and advanced the policy institute’s legislative priorities in the areas of economic security, social equity and immigration reform. Monica is a Peace Corps alumna (Dominican Republic) and a graduate of Dartmouth College and Columbia University School of Social Work.
Lia Parada Bio:
Lia Parada is the Hub’s Chief Advocacy Officer. She brings deep expertise working with Congress and national advocacy campaigns engaged in critical policy fights. Lia leads the Hub’s advocacy, working with partners to secure a path to citizenship and protect undocumented communities and asylum seekers. She was previously the Director of Government Relations at the Center for American Progress (CAP) where she focused on criminal justice reform, immigration reform, women’s economic security and rights and judicial nominations. Prior to CAP, Lia was the Legislative Manager for Planned Parenthood Federation of America where she focused on access to reproductive rights for underrepresented communities. Formerly, she was the deputy campaign manager for legislation and policy for a national coalition for immigration reform, the Alliance for Citizenship. Lia was also the legislative aide to former Rep. Xavier Becerra where she oversaw bipartisan immigration reform negotiations and worked on the passage of the Dream Act in the House of Representatives in 2010. Lia is the proud daughter of Salvadoran immigrants and resides in Virginia with her husband and 3 children. She is a graduate of George Mason University.
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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.