Friend,

I am deeply honored to share that I've been named the recipient of the Puffin Prize for Creative Citizenship — an annual recognition from the Puffin Foundation and Type Media Center, given to an individual who has pushed boundaries through innovative and socially conscious efforts.

Receiving this year’s prize was both a personal honor and a validation of NILC's work. It was also an opportunity — in a room full of journalists, activists, and leaders across industries, I took the podium to share a critical message focused on the need for all of us to protect immigrants and defend our democracy:

We have seen how quickly this administration has launched into a full-scale effort to dismantle our democracy. As we anticipated, they are testing the limits of executive power by violating the rights of immigrants first. But as we have seen throughout history, an authoritarian regime that begins by attacking immigrants does not stop there.

This is our current reality. And despite the gravity of the situation, I have faith that together we can meet this moment. As much as Donald Trump may want to reshape this country in his image, the truth and the Constitution are on our side.

Let me be clear: I belong here, in the United States of America. This is my home. Immigrants belong in America. This is our home.

That truth has guided my life’s work, and it’s what is at the very heart of the work that NILC does every single day — to fight for justice for immigrant communities.

As journalist and activist Ida B. Wells once said, “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.” Together, we must all rise to the challenge. We must speak up and fight back. And shine a light on the truth — before it’s too late.

Siempre en la lucha,

Kica Matos
President
National Immigration Law Center