Cecilia Munoz

Director of the Domestic Policy Council (since January 2012)

(Dayna Smith/TWP)

Why She Matters

Munoz now serves as the Director of the Domestic Policy Council where she coordinates the policy-making process and supervises execution of domestic policy in the White House.

She was formerly the White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Amidst the piles of papers strewn on Munoz's old office was a framed cover of the Village Voice featuring the Statue of Liberty with a black eye. She's holding a banner that reads "Immigrants, Get Out!"

The cartoon is emblematic of what Munoz has opposed during her entire professional career. The civil-rights advocate has long fought for immigrant rights and better treatment for Hispanic Americans, taking on President Clinton 's welfare reform and conservative attacks on amnesty programs for illegal immigrants. It is a skill she learned from her Bolivian father, who rounded up friends to send letters to Congress to oppose various bills.

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Background

At a Glance

Career History: Diocese of Chicago, immigration advocate (1984 to 1988); National Council of La Raza, executive vice president (1988 to 2009)
Birthday: 1962
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan

Alma Mater: University, of Michigan, BA, University of California at Berkely, Masters
Spouse: B/A
Religion: Roman Catholic

Path to Power

Munoz was born in Detroit in 1962. Her parents, who were immigrants from La Paz, Bolivia, moved so Munoz's father could attend the University of Michigan. Munoz attended the same school nearly two decades later, where she studied English and Latin American studies. She also tutored imprisoned Hispanic Americans.

After graduate school at the University of California at Berkeley, Munoz moved to Chicago to help the Diocese of Chicago legalize undocumented immigrants. "I was working 14-, 16-hour days. It was intense," she told the Detroit News in 1997. "I had a real sense of obligation not to mess up." But Munoz also said she faced sexism from some priests, discrimination that ultimately led her to reconsider her role with the Catholic Church.

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The Issues

Munoz has centered her advocacy work on fighting for the rights of Hispanic Americans. "The line between anti-immigrant and anti-Latino is pretty thin," Munoz told The Washington Post in 2000. "The day when my kids can walk down the street and be called American, that's the goal."

She has been described as the person to call when television stations need an immigration expert. "She's a ferocious advocate, a very powerful spokesperson," Frank Sharry, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, told the Detroit News. "She is as tough and determined an advocate as you can find … she doesn't back down an inch."

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Immigration

Munoz believes that immigrants have contributed significant benefits to the U.S., and she backed a report that found undocumented workers added as much as $10 billion to the economy. She has criticized those who call for stronger border protections or who would like to deport illegal immigrants. Those groups "try to find out what people in a certain area are concerned about and then try to link those concerns to immigration," she told the Arizona Republic.

She supported parts of the 2007 Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, particularly the measure that would have created a clear path to citizenship to illegal immigrants. However, La Raza wrote it would not support any bill unless it included "a path to citizenship for the current undocumented population; the creation of new legal channels for future immigrant workers; a reduction of family immigration backlogs; and the protection of civil rights and civil liberties."

Discrimination Against Hispanics

One of the most pervasive issues facing Hispanics in America is suspicion and discrimination, Munoz argues. One of her biggest frustrations is hearing about Latinos from border states whose families have lived in America for generation but who are treated as foreigners. "It gets old … we're tired of being treated as if we don't belong here," she told The Detroit News.

Munoz has experienced discrimination in her own life. In 1997, she was invited to a White House briefing. But before the event, she was twice asked whether she was a U.S. citizen. Though the White House said the question had been added to the screening for all guests, two other invitees were not asked. "I hit the ceiling," Munoz told The Washington Post at the time. "I have smoke coming out of my ears, I'm so mad." Munoz quickly brought attention to the alleged slight, calling The Washington Post and convincing them to write a story.

Welfare Reform

One of Munoz's most successful campaigns was against a 1996 welfare reform bill signed into law by President Clinton. The measure cut food stamp benefits and Supplemental Security Income for legal immigrants. The National Council of La Raza sprung into action, launching a campaign to chronicle the impact of the cuts on immigrants. The effort was ultimately successful - almost a year later, Clinton adapted the legislation, restoring some of the SSI funding. He did not, however, reinstate the food stamp benefits.

The Network

Munoz was part of President Barack Obama 's 2008 presidential campaign. She advised him on Hispanic relations along with Cuauthemoc Figueroa and has worked with Secretary of Labor-designate Hilda L. Solis.

Additional Resources

Doug Ross Web site
"Hispanic Caucus Applauds Appointment of Munoz to Obama Staff," Congressional Documents and Publications, Nov. 26, 2008
Sample, Herbert A., "Activists Want Food Stamps Restored to Immigrants." Orange County Register, Aug. 22, 1997
Allen, Kent, "The Gift of a Lifetime: 25 Receive MacArthur Grants," The Washington Post, June 14, 2000
Fletcher, Michael A., "Obama Appoints White House Speechwriting and Intergovernmental Affairs Heads," The Washington Post, Nov. 26, 2008
Price, Deb, "Obama names Detroit native to White House intergovernmental Post," The Detroit News, Nov. 27, 2008
National Council of La Raza Web site
Navarrette, Ruben, Jr., "Groups Ask for Cuts in Immigrants." Arizona Republic, Nov. 11, 1997
Sun, Lena, "White House Queries Activist on Citizenship," The Washington Post, March 21, 1997
Eversley, Melanie, "A Leading Authority Detroit Native Speaks Out Proudly for Latino Issues," Detroit Free Press, Nov. 3, 1997

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