Immigration Through the Lens of Latina Leaders

A Conversation with
Loretta Sanchez
Advanced Leadership Fellow, 2018
United States House of Representatives (1997-2017)
Beatriz Merino
Advanced Leadership Fellow, 2018
Prime Minister of Peru (June 2003-December 2003)
Fernando M. Reimers
Ford Foundation Professor of the Practice in International Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Panelists Loretta Sanchez, former United States Representative (1997-2017), and Beatriz Merino, former Prime Minister of Peru (June 2003-December 2003) joined moderator Fernando M. Reimers, Ford Foundation Professor of the Practice in International Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education for a panel discussion to reflect on the role of political leadership in combating backlash towards immigration in the world today. The panelists described their own personal experiences and relationships with immigration, and explored the role of Latina leaders in addressing the under-representation of Latinos in politics. They also addressed the consequences of anti-immigrant sentiment and how the rise of intolerance, xenophobia, and populism pose a threat to democracy.