The Latin America Working Group is a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying organization that works to increase immigration levels into the U.S., to make immigration policy more liberal, and to change U.S. foreign policy in Latin America by normalizing relations with revolutionary radical-left regimes in the region. The organization coordinates the visits of Latin American civil society leaders to the United States and publishes research on U.S. foreign policy related to Latin America.

The organization was founded in 1983 and works to promote a less militaristic foreign policy in Latin America. The organization supported normalization of relations with Communist-ruled Cuba. The organization has also worked to support making it easier for immigrants from Latin America to immigrate to the United States and has worked to undermine enforcement of immigration laws. ¹

Programs

The organization has four campaigns that it works on: promote peace, protect migrants and refugees, uphold justice and defend the defenders, and advance land, economic, and environmental rights.

A major focus on the promote peace campaign is supporting the end of Colombia’s civil war. Another major focus of the promote peace campaign is ending the U.S. embargo on Communist-ruled Cuba. ²

The protect migrants and refugees campaign is geared towards opposing the enforcement of immigration law and making it easier for migrants from Latin America to enter the United States. The organization is opposed to family separations and most deportations. The organization is also opposed to the practice of returning migrants to Mexico before their cases are decided by immigration authorities. ³

The uphold justice and defend the defenders campaign is geared towards opposing corruption in Latin American nations and supporting human rights defenders in Latin American countries. The organization encourages using U.S. aid to Latin American countries to strengthen the rule of law and human rights in Latin American nations. The organization also provides support towards human rights and environmental activists in Latin America. ⁴

The advance land, economic and environmental rights campaign encourages indigenous and other excluded groups in Latin America to fight for their economic, land, and environmental rights. The organization pressures U.S. lawmakers to oppose giving aid to certain projects that harm the environment or that it views as exploitative of the local people. ⁵

Leadership

Lisa Haugaard is the co-director of the organization. She has served in this capacity since June 2002. Previously, she was a senior associate from 1993-2002. She focuses on advocacy on Colombia and Central America. ⁶

Daniella Burgi-Palomino is the co-director of the organization. She has worked in this capacity since 2019. Previously, she worked as a senior associate. She focuses on migrant rights and immigration issues. ⁷

Mavis Anderson is a senior associate. She has been working to end the U.S. embargo on Communist Cuba since 1997. ⁸

Financials

According to the 2018 Form 990, the organization raised $152,919 and spent $124,022. ⁹

The largest single expenditure was $94,498 in support of the organization’s current projects. Among the projects were reforming foreign aid policies toward Latin America, ending the U.S. embargo on Cuba, and supporting more liberal immigration laws. ¹⁰

1.         “About Us”. 2020. Latin America Working Group. Accessed December 18. https://www.lawg.org/about-us/.
2.            “Promote Peace”. 2020. Latin America Working Group. Accessed December 18. https://www.lawg.org/single-campaign/?id=56.
3. “Protect Migrants & Refugees”. 2020. Latin America Working Group. Accessed December 18. https://www.lawg.org/single-campaign/?id=49.
4. “Uphold Justice & Defend The Defenders”. 2020. Latin America Working Group. Accessed December 18. https://www.lawg.org/single-campaign/?id=63.
5.      “Advance Land, Economic, & Environmental Rights”. 2020. Latin America Working Group. Accessed December 18. https://www.lawg.org/single-campaign/?id=67.
6. “Lisa Haugaard”. 2020. Latin America Working Group. Accessed December 18. https://www.lawg.org/team_member/lisa-haugaard/.
7. “Daniella Burgi-Palomino”. 2020. Latin America Working Group. Accessed December 18. https://www.lawg.org/team_member/daniella-burgi-palomino/.
8. “Mavis Anderson”. 2020. Latin America Working Group. Accessed December 18. https://www.lawg.org/team_member/mavis-anderson/.
9. Form 990. 2018. Ebook. Guidestar. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2018/061/534/2018-061534561-112ab480-ZO.pdf?_gl=1*1gnef7w*_ga*MTcyOTQwMTk5OC4xNTczNDQ5NDky*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYwODI2ODg2Ny4xLjEuMTYwODI2ODkxNS4w*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYwODI2ODg2Ny4xLjEuMTYwODI2ODkxNS4w&_ga=2.231656671.1504651325.1608268866-1729401998.1573449492.
10.         Form 990. 2018. Ebook. Guidestar. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2018/061/534/2018-061534561-112ab480-ZO.pdf?_gl=1*1gnef7w*_ga*MTcyOTQwMTk5OC4xNTczNDQ5NDky*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYwODI2ODg2Ny4xLjEuMTYwODI2ODkxNS4w*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYwODI2ODg2Ny4xLjEuMTYwODI2ODkxNS4w&_ga=2.231656671.1504651325.1608268866-1729401998.1573449492.