WASHINGTON, DC— FWD.us Vice President of Advocacy Alida Garcia is taking temporary leave to join the White House as Senior Advisor for Migration. FWD.us President Todd Schulte issued the following statement:

“Alida is great—really, really great. She is an extraordinary leader who brings a depth of civic experience and immigration policy expertise to the White House. For years Alida has been a leading voice to repair our long-failed immigration system, fighting tirelessly with conviction and courage to keep families together and advocating for the dignified care of vulnerable mothers, fathers and children who have been locked out of the American Dream.

“Be it her work in fighting the Trump Administration’s family separation cruelty, her leadership in protecting Dreamers and keeping the keeping Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program alive through a victory at the Supreme Court, or fighting for a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, Alida is a brilliant strategic thinker who leads with wisdom, integrity and heart.

“There is absolutely no question why the White House would add Alida to their team tasked with building a new, humane and working immigration and asylum system that secures dignity for families and citizenship for millions — a policy that is wildly popular with Americans across the political spectrum. Alida has dedicated her career to public service. She is a mom with two kids who is going to fight every single day for other moms and kids who just want a chance at the American Dream.

“In Alida, the White House and our country have a champion for justice and opportunity. We are thankful to her and proud that Alida is taking a brief leave for this critical public service.”