Unless Padilla or the other Latino senators take a hard line on immigration reform, a legalization bill is unlikely to be enacted during the current Congress.

In our extended conversation with Alex Padilla, we look at why it has taken so long for a Latino to represent California in the Senate, and the many issues the senator must address.

Yes, it’s complicated. It always has been.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Secretary of State Alex Padilla on Tuesday as the state’s next U.S. senator to fill the seat being vacated by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

These instances of racist and discriminatory practices in academic spaces are not new.

With a lack of representation in Congress, Ocasio-Cortez stands as a pillar of hope for Puerto Ricans, especially those from the Bronx.

UPDATE, March 20, 2015: Last night, the White House Petition News’ Facebook page stated the following: The petition “take out Alejandro García-Padilla from the governorship of Puerto Rico: Now!” has reached 100k signatures and will soon receive a response from the White House concerning possible inquires into the territorial economy of Puerto Rico in relation […]

New rules announced by President Joe Biden and a new bill introduced by Sens. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) look to eliminate the high costs and enduring stigma that keep many Latinos from seeking mental health care.

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) is expected to negotiate immigrant relief into a bipartisan immigration bill with Senate Republicans, but Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), the most senior Latino in the Senate, expressed doubts that reform will pass this year.

Latinos made up about one in 10 of the votes cast during the 2022 midterm elections, according to a study conducted by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. Roughly 35 million Latinos were eligible to vote, representing 14 percent of the electorate.

Latinos were running for top offices across 44 states, with political observers predicting a “historic” rise in Latino representation. Some elections have yet to be called, but even still, Latinos have made clear gains throughout the government.

Tuesday’s midterm elections will likely see a “historic” rise in Latino representation in Congress, statewide offices, and state legislatures, according to a study conducted by NALEO. Latinos are running for top offices in 44 states.

Three of its members —including the former Council president— are facing calls from President Joe Biden to resign after a recording surfaced of them participating in a closed-door meeting in which racist language was used to mock colleagues while they schemed to protect Latino political strength in Council districts.

Senate Democrats introduced a bill on Wednesday that would provide a simple, sturdy pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who have waited decades for relief, alongside millions of documented immigrants languishing in backlogs.

The White House debuted a new voice in a new language on Wednesday, giving the honor of beginning Hispanic Heritage Month to Luisana Pérez Fernández, a senior press aide to President Joe Biden, who delivered the press briefing to the White House press in Spanish.

While dozens of immigrant relief bills, amendments, and proposals have been introduced during the current Congress, none are likely to pass the House and Senate and be signed into law by President Joe Biden, sources on Capitol Hill tell Latino Rebels.

Documented dreamers who age out of their immigration status, often at 21 years old, face a difficult choice of self-deporting back to the country where they were born or staying in the United States undocumented.

Fallout has begun over the decision by six Democratic senators to vote for a failed messaging amendment to preserve Title 42 restrictions on immigration, with Salvadoran-born state Rep. Maria Perez posting a video to express her indignation over Sen. Hassan’s vote in favor of the amendment.

Shortly after 2 a.m. on Sunday, an anti-immigrant amendment by Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) was rejected by a 50-50 vote. Lankford’s amendment called for the use of Obamacare money to fund Title 42, the Trump-era policy that bars immigrants from entering the United States based on public health concerns. 

Latinos make up a small percentage of Congress, a little over eight percent. Of the 45 Latinos currently serving in Congress, 18 (40 percent) represent states where abortion is banned, restricted, or expected to have restrictions soon

A bipartisan group of four senators —two Democrats and two Republicans— have been meeting to find consensus on an immigration bill that can get 60 votes to pass the Senate. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) gives Latino Rebels an outline of those discussions.