Erika Andiola

Erika Andiola is an immigration rights activist located in Metropolitan Phoenix.[1] She is the Chief Advocacy Officer for the organization RAICES. Her previous political roles include Political Director for the organization Our Revolution,[2] Press Secretary for Latino Outreach in Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign,[3] and Congressional staffer for then-Representative Kyrsten Sinema.[4] Much of Andiola's work has been driven by her own journey as an undocumented female immigrant.[1]

Biography

Andiola's mother brought her into the United States as an undocumented immigrant when she was 11.[5] They were fleeing domestic violence.[6] Andiola graduated with a degree in psychology from Arizona State University (ASU) in 2009.[7] During the time the US Senate was deliberating on the Development, Relief, and Education for Minors Act (Dream Act), Andiola came forward publicly as a Dreamer.[8] In 2012 she was granted a deportation reprieve.[9]

Andiola co-founded the Arizona Dream Act Coalition, which is "an immigrant, youth-led organization focusing on the fight for higher education and immigrant rights."[10] In Arizona, she made a name for herself by confronting politicians who supported anti-immigration policies.[8] She has also served in the National Coordinating Committee and the Board of Directors for the United We Dream Network.[11]

In 2013 her mother and brother were detained and nearly deported after a raid at Erika Andiola's Arizona home.[12] She posted a video about her family's detainment on YouTube and it went viral.[6] It was through Andiola's close work with the immigration officers that her family was able to remain in the country.[12] Also in 2013, Andiola played the role of one of the two mothers in the music video, "El Hielo," directed by Alex Rivera.[13] In 2013, she became an outreach staffer for Representative Kyrsten Sinema (D-Phoenix).[8] Later, she was moved to Sinema's Washington, D.C. office.[8] She started working as a triage caseworker with the Guatemalan consulate in 2015.[8] In 2016, she was hired to work for the Bernie Sanders campaign for president as a Latino outreach strategist for the Southwest United States.[6]

In 2017, she was involved in a protest at the Texas State Capitol against rescinding DACA in Texas.[14] Andiola was involved in the group Our Revolution's decision to part ways with Tezlyn Figaro, whose Fox News appearances and tweets criticized the Democratic Party’s focus on “illegal immigrants.”[15]

In 2020, she and RAICES Communication Manager Lucia Allain interrupted Joe Biden's closing statement at the Nevada Democratic primary debate.[16]

References
  1. "Is It Possible to Resist Deportation in Trump's America?". Source of the Week. 2017-03-23. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  2. "Our Revolution Statement on Trump's Attack on Immigrant Families and Progressive States". Our Revolution. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  3. "Erika's Story". Home is Here. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  4. "Capitol Hill staffer quits job to fight mom's deportation in Arizona". Cronkite News. 2013-12-04.
  5. Cassata, Donna (18 April 2012). "GOP Weighs Migrant Plan". Arizona Republic. p. A1. Retrieved 2018-11-11 – via Newspapers.com. and "Immigration". Arizona Republic. 18 April 2012. p. A4. Retrieved 2018-11-11 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Nevarez, Griselda (2015-11-02). "Arizona Immigration Activist Hired to Work for Bernie Sanders Campaign". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2018-11-11.
  7. Nevarez, Griselda (21 September 2010). "Illegal immigrant students' hopes dashed with DREAM Act's failure in U.S". Arizona Capitol Times. Archived from the original on 12 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018 – via HighBeam Research.
  8. Hing, Julianne (2016). "Dreams No Longer Deferred". Nation. 302 (6): 16–21 – via EBSCOhost.
  9. Foley, Elise (2013-01-11). "Erika Andiola, Undocumented Immigrant Activist, Urges ICE To Free Her Detained Family". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2018-11-11.
  10. "ADAC – Arizona DREAM Act Coalition". theadac.org. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  11. "Erika Andiola". dacaseminar.fas.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  12. Cindy Y. Rodriguez; Janet DiGiacomo. "Agents take mother of immigration activist in night home raid". CNN. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  13. Fernandez, Valeria (3 May 2013). "'El Hielo": Music Video Inspires Immigrant Rights Activists, Goes Viral". La Prensa San Diego. Archived from the original on 12 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018 – via HighBeam Research.
  14. "Immigrants Arrested Near Capitol During DACA Protest". The Texas Tribune. 26 July 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018 – via HighBeam Research.
  15. "Sanders-founded group likely to part with staffer who tweeted about 'illegal immigrants'". Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  16. "What Protesters Shouted at the Nevada Democratic Debate". Time. 2020-02-19.
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