LULAC Warns Nebraska Governor To Put Health And Safety First

Nation’s Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Says Pete Ricketts is Risking Lives to Score Political Points

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) today issued the following statement after Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts stated undocumented immigrants in Nebraska will not qualify for vaccinations against COVID-19.

Domingo Garcia - LULAC National President
“LULAC reminds Governor Ricketts that COVID-19 doesn’t ask about legal status and does not care about the politics of a state. As we are seeing, COVID impacts each and every person in a community one way or another, directly or indirectly. It benefits all residents that each and every person in a meatpacking facility be vaccinated and their families too. It is the Christian thing to do and from a medical standpoint, the right thing to do.”

Sindy Benavides - National Chief Executive Officer
‘LULAC is troubled that the highest elected official in a state ravaged by the coronavirus is now choosing to play politics with the lives of all men, women and children who may be needlessly exposed to COVID-19. He of all people should know that the virus does not distinguish between political parties, birthplace nor immigration status as it spreads like wildfire among the nation’s essential workers. Already, more than 44,500 coronavirus cases and 232 deaths have occurred among meatpacking workers across the United States who daily risk their lives to keep us nourished. They live in communities throughout Nebraska and many other states so to deny them access to the vaccine is a foolhardy and irresponsible decision by Governor Ricketts. It is incumbent upon him and every other elected and appointed official to act with deliberate urgency to ensure workers in our food supply chain are kept healthy and productive. LULAC urges Governor Ricketts to reconsider his decision for the sake of all the residents of Nebraska because further delays will only make an already dangerous health threat even worse. No one will judge him wrong for doing the right thing if after it is all said and done, lives are saved and the state’s economy benefits.”

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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit https://lulac.org/