WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 24: Xavier Becerra, nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, makes an opening statement during his Senate Finance Committee nomination hearing on February 24, 2021 in Washington, DC. Becerra is currently the Attorney General of California.
Former President Trump made it almost his mandate to make life difficult for Latinos and immigrants. One policy that no one can ever forget about is his “Zero Tolerance” attacks against migrant children. This policy led to over 500 children STILL being separated from their parents; the government didn’t keep proper track of their parents.
One person who can fix all of this is the next Health and Human Services Secretary, and President Biden has nominated Xavier Beccerra for the post. Not only will Becerra be critical for resolving the child separation issue, but his leadership is urgently needed to deal with the current covid pandemic.
Attorney Domingo Garcia has long been calling for more representation in the Biden administration, and the urgent confirmation of Becerra would be a good start.
Becerra is a priority given the coronavirus outbreak that has now killed more than 520,000 Americans
Newsweek
By Adrian Carrasquillo
But Latino leaders who helped register and turn out Latino voters and pushed for Biden to have a cabinet that resembles the country, said Becerra’s confirmation is a matter that isn’t being given the urgency it warrants and made clear that they will expect improvements under his leadership given the controversial news that Trump-era facilities were being reopened for migrant kids.
“There’s urgent need for reform at these detention centers for children and families,” Domingo Garcia, the president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), told Newsweek. “Attorney General Becerra has the ability and experience to transform that agency after the neglect and abuse it suffered under the Trump administration.”
