Texas Border Business
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (DEC. 8, 2017) — Eddie Aldrete, senior vice president of IBC Bank, has been named chairman of the board of the National Immigration Forum (the Forum). He had previously served as vice chairman since 2015.
The Forum, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C., is one of the leading immigrant advocacy organizations in the country. Founded in 1982, it works with constituencies around the country and across the political spectrum to advocate for the value of immigrants and immigration to the nation.
Aldrete will serve a three-year term as chairman of the board. Aldrete takes the helm of this advocacy group at a time when the country is widely divided on the issue of immigration reform. Compounding this challenge is the upcoming retirements of many members of Congress.
“We will need to educate a new group of (Congressional) members on the issues,” Aldrete said.
The Forum is crucial to the task of underscoring the importance of immigrants and immigration to American workers and nation’s communities and economy. While strong rhetoric is being issued by both sides of the immigration debate, the Forum “has become the moderate voice for immigration reform,” Aldrete says.
“The current political climate makes the work of the National Immigration Forum all the more important,” adds Ali Noorani, executive director for the Forum. “On behalf of the organization’s staff, we are thrilled Eddie is stepping into this crucial leadership role.”
Noorani continued, “I want to thank our outgoing chair, Laura Reiff, for her leadership of the Forum Board of Directors over the past three years. She leaves for Eddie an exemplary Board that is positioned to do great things under his leadership.”
Aldrete and Noorani point to the Bibles, Badges and Business for Immigration Reform initiative as an example of the organization’s impact. The program unites law enforcement, the faith community and business leaders to achieve a common goal — to advocate for broad immigration solutions.
“Once all three came together and began to communicate more vocally with their members of Congress,” Aldrete continued, “the tenor and tone of the debate began to change.”
“More Americans are paying attention to immigration than ever before,” Noorani adds. And those who were once unlikely allies — faith, law enforcement and business leaders — are deeply invested partners because they realize the importance of the moment, and the unique role of the Forum. At present, Gordon adds, this network is in the midst of a series of fly-ins from key regions around the country — with constituents from Texas, South Carolina, Iowa, Arizona and elsewhere coming to D.C. and speaking with their representatives.
Aldrete’s work with the Forum is representative of his larger commitment to cross-border issues. This past spring, for example, he was appointed chairman of the Texas Mexico Trade Coalition — a pro-NAFTA organization made up of executives of IBC Bank, as well as officials from the Texas Association of Business, the Texas Business Leadership Council, the Borderplex Alliance, and the Texas and National Associations of Manufacturers.
