Progressive immigrant voter organization endorses Biden

CASA in Action, a progressive immigrant rights advocacy organization, endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday, a day after Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) dropped out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

CASA in Action had previously endorsed Sanders, citing group members’ unanimous support for the Vermont firebrand.

In its endorsement of Biden, the group cited the former vice president’s pledge to support undocumented immigrants, including “immediate relief” for beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) programs, and support for criminal justice reform.

“Our community needs Joe Biden to serve as our champion in the White House, prioritizing policies that protect immigrants and working families,” said Yaheiry Mora, executive director of CASA in Action.

“This is the most important election of our lifetime and CASA in Action has already begun knocking on doors and registering voters to ensure victory in November,” she added.

CASA in Action is the country’s largest immigrant-focused member-based group focused on electoral gains.

Based out of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, the group promotes allowing undocumented immigrants to have access to drivers’ licenses, and training for immigrants to defend their rights in interactions with law enforcement and immigration officials.

According to the group, it hired more than 200 campaign staffers in the 2018 election across eight counties in the three states where it operates.

The group’s endorsement touted a speech Biden delivered to CASA in Action leadership earlier this year, where he heavily criticized President Trump.

“Donald Trump’s presidency has been a disaster for all working people, and especially for people of color, immigrants, women, LGBTQ+ and people with disabilities,” said Biden.

“But the problems these groups face were created over and have existed for generations. I am running to rebuild the middle class so that this time everyone comes along, no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or disability. Everyone means everyone,” he added.