Other Group

Catalyze/Citizens

Website:

catalyzecitizens.org

Type:

Immigration Advocacy Group

Parent Organization:

Immigration Hub

Formation:

2024

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Catalyze/Citizens is an immigration advocacy group that argues for left-of-center immigration and border policies. 1 The group is the political advocacy arm of left-of-center organization Immigration Hub, which was founded in 2017 to oppose immigration policies adopted by the first Trump administration. 2

Background

Catalyze/Citizens is an immigration advocacy group that argues for left-of-center immigration and border policies. 1 The group is the political advocacy arm of left-of-center organization Immigration Hub, which was founded in 2017 to oppose migration policies passed by the first Trump administration. 2

According to a POLITICO report published on December 3, 2024, the group was launched by Immigration Hub that same day. 3 Catalyze/Citizens is its political advocacy arm and a 501(c)(4) organization. 4 5

Activities

Immigration Hub claimed that Catalyze/Citizens was launched to assist in combatting “disinformation” related to immigration 2 while advocating to change Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to regulate speech on the internet as well as the use of artificial intelligence (AI). 4

Catalyze/Citizens has released several research reports on immigration, with several on its website having been previously released by Immigration Hub. 6 In a 2024 report titled “Right-Wing Playbook: Immigration Ads and Narratives,” it claimed that in 2024, Republican candidates running for office outspent Democratic candidates on election ads related to immigration issues by over five to one, with Republicans spending $573.48 million and Democrats spending $106.97 million that year. 1 7

Leadership

As of December 2024, Beatriz Lopez and Kerri Talbot were the co-executive directors of both Immigration Hub and Catalyze/Citizens. 2 4

Kerri Talbot was previously a partner at the Veng Group, where she worked with the National Immigration Law Center, Deloitte, Human Rights First, and the Women’s Refugee Commission. She previously served as chief counsel for the office of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ). She also worked at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Rights Working Group, the Break the Chain Campaign at the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS), Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, and Physicians for Human Rights. 8

Beatriz Lopez is a co-founder of nonprofit strategy servicer CKZ. She was previously the managing director of communications for the Center for American Progress (CAP) Action Fund, the assistant communications director for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and the head of labor outreach programs for the Florida Association of Planned Parenthood and Public Citizen. 9

References

  1. “About.” Catalyze/Citizens. Accessed December 22, 2024. https://catalyzecitizens.org/about/.
  2. Ward, Myah. “Pro-immigration group launches a political arm to combat Trump’s agenda.” Politico, December 3, 2024. Accessed December 22, 2024. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/03/immigration-hub-pac-catalyze-citizens-00192141.
  3.   Ward, Myah. “Pro-immigration group launches a political arm to combat Trump’s agenda.” Politico, December 3, 2024. Accessed December 22, 2024. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/03/immigration-hub-pac-catalyze-citizens-00192141.
  4. “Press – Immigration Hub Names Beatriz Lopez Co-Executive Director and Launches New Advocacy Arm.” Catalyze/Citizens, December 3, 2024. Accessed December 22, 2024. https://catalyzecitizens.org/immigration-hub-names-beatriz-lopez-co-executive-director-and-launches-new-advocacy-arm/
  5. “Tax Exempt Organization Search.” Internal Revenue Service. Accessed December 22, 2024. https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/.
  6. “Research.” Catalyze/Citizens. Accessed December 22, 2024. https://catalyzecitizens.org/research/.
  7. “Right-Wing Playbook: Immigration Ads and Narratives.” Catalyze/Citizens. Accessed December 22, 2024. https://catalyzecitizens.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/cc_2024-right-wing-spending-and-narratives-report.pdf.
  8. “Kerri Talbot.” Immigration Hub. Accessed December 22, 2024. https://theimmigrationhub.org/people/kerri-talbot/.
  9. “Beatriz Lopez.” Immigration Hub. Accessed December 22, 2024. https://theimmigrationhub.org/people/beatriz-lopez/.
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