New American Leaders Action Fund is a left-of-center activist and electioneering organization that focuses its efforts on immigrants as a political bloc, to whom it refers as “new Americans.” The organization’s focus is getting more left-of-center immigrants elected to state and federal office as Democrats.

In addition to trying to get more left-of-center immigrants elected to office, the organization also campaigns for left-of-center policies. After Republican Glenn Youngkin won the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election, the organization co-signed a statement with other left-of-center groups calling on Congress to pass the government expansion plans pushed for by President Joe Biden. ¹ The organization also supports a federal takeover of election administration. ²

In 2022, the organization released a report about the numbers of immigrants elected to office. In the report, it accused the Republican Party for employing what it called “white supremacist rhetoric.” ³

Background

The New American Leaders Action Fund is a left-of-center activist and electioneering organization that focuses on issues and concerns of immigrants. The organization’s focus is electing more left-of-center immigrants elected to state and federal office and to promote left-of-center issue stances. ⁴

The organization is the sister organization of New American Leaders, an organization that encourages immigrants to run for office. ⁵

Issue Stances

In May 2021, it endorsed the “For The People Act,” proposed legislation that would facilitate a federal takeover of election administration. The organization claimed that the government currently only serves the interests of corporations and the wealthy. It also claimed that democracy and the power of voters diminishes every day that the bill is not passed. ⁶

In November 2021, the day after Democrats were defeated in Virginia’s state elections, the organization co-signed a statement released by We Demand More Coalition. The organization called on the U.S. Congress to immediately pass the “Build Back Better Act,” a proposed program of federal government and social welfare expansion that was pushed for by President Joe Biden and Democratic leaders. ⁷

In November 2022, after Democrats lost control of the U.S. House of Representatives, the organization co-signed a letter that called on Democratic leaders in the U.S. Congress to prioritize passing legislation granting legal status to illegal immigrants in the “lame duck” session that would last until January 2023. The letter warned that the new “anti-immigrant” majority in the U.S. House was not willing to enact such legislation and the court system was likely going to rule that executive branch amnesty programs were unconstitutional. ⁸

In August 2022, the organization released a report detailing the numbers of immigrants who have been elected to state and federal office. The report noted that most immigrants elected were of a Black or Latino background and that most of the elected immigrant officials were women. That contrasted with 71 percent of white elected officials being male. ⁹

The report went on to criticize the Republican Party for its lack of diversity. It claimed that more than 90 percent of immigrant lawmakers were Democrats. It also accused the Republican Party of engaging in “white supremacist rhetoric.” ¹⁰

Leadership

The president is Ghida Dagher, who was a graduate of a New American Leaders course. Dagher was also a trainer for the organization. Before she became president of the organization, she was the director of appointments for Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D). She came to the United States as a refugee as a young child. ¹¹

New American Leaders Action Fund was founded and previously led by Sayu Bhojwani. Bhojwani was the former New York City commissioner for immigrant affairs. She stepped down to create and lead Women’s Democracy Lab. ¹²

Funding

According to New American Leaders Action Fund’s 2019 tax return, it received $25,500 and spent $43,116. It had $43,726 in assets. ¹³

1. [1]“We Demand More Coalition on Last Night’s Elections; Says Democrats Must Pass Transformative Agenda to Keep Voters Mobilized.” All* Above All Action Fund, November 3, 2021. https://allaboveallaction.org/news/we-demand-more-coalition-on-last-nights-elections-says-democrats-must-pass-transformative-agenda-to-keep-voters-mobilized/
2. [1]“Call Your Senator: Demand They Support S.1 the ‘for the People Act.’” New American Leaders Action Fund. New American Leaders Action Fund, May 27, 2021. https://www.nalaf.org/actionslist/call-your-senator-demand-they-support-s1-the-for-the-people-act.
3. Shelton, Shania. “’New Americans’ Make Gains in State Legislatures but Are Still Small Minority, Study Shows.” CNN. Cable News Network, August 24, 2022. https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/24/politics/immigrant-americans-state-legislatures-2022-report/index.html.
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6. [1]“Call Your Senator: Demand They Support S.1 the ‘for the People Act.’” New American Leaders Action Fund. New American Leaders Action Fund, May 27, 2021. https://www.nalaf.org/actionslist/call-your-senator-demand-they-support-s1-the-for-the-people-act.
7. We Demand More Coalition on Last Night’s Elections; Says Democrats Must Pass Transformative Agenda to Keep Voters Mobilized.” All* Above All Action Fund, November 3, 2021. https://allaboveallaction.org/news/we-demand-more-coalition-on-last-nights-elections-says-democrats-must-pass-transformative-agenda-to-keep-voters-mobilized/.
8.  [1]“225+ Orgs Sign Letter to Speaker Pelosi & Leader Schumer Re: Prioritizing Protections for Immigrant Youth and DACA Recipients in End-of-Year.” GALEO Impact Fund, November 14, 2022. https://galeoimpactfund.org/2022/11/225-orgs-sign-letter-to-speaker-pelosi-leader-schumer-re-prioritizing-protections-for-immigrant-youth-and-daca-recipients-in-end-of-year/.
9. Shelton, Shania. “’New Americans’ Make Gains in State Legislatures but Are Still Small Minority, Study Shows.” CNN. Cable News Network, August 24, 2022. https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/24/politics/immigrant-americans-state-legislatures-2022-report/index.html
10. Shelton, Shania. “’New Americans’ Make Gains in State Legislatures but Are Still Small Minority, Study Shows.” CNN. Cable News Network, August 24, 2022. https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/24/politics/immigrant-americans-state-legislatures-2022-report/index.html.
11. [1]“New American Leaders Welcomes Ghida Dagher, Political Consultant and Senior Staffer for Governor Whitmer, as Incoming President.” New American Leaders. Accessed February 13, 2023. https://newamericanleaders.org/blog/ghida-dagher-incoming-president-nal/.
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13. [1]“New American Leaders Action Fund Inc – Form Form 990-O for Period Ending Sep 2019.” ProPublica. Accessed February 13, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/831769970/08_2021_prefixes_81-83%2F831769970_201909_990O_2021081718733950.