Angelica Salas

Angelica Salas is an immigrant from Durango, Mexico, who came to the United States as a child to reunite with her parents seeking a better life. Angelica understands the challenges immigrants face–she and her family lived undocumented, experienced deportation and were able to legalize their status. She became a U.S. citizen in 2008.

Angelica joined CHIRLA in 1995 and became its Executive Director in 1999, transforming it into a leading immigrant-led organization. Under her leadership, CHIRLA supports immigrants and their families to advocate for policies that advance their human, civil, and labor rights. It has grown to be one of the nation’s largest and most effective immigrant rights organizations, providing advocacy, education, and legal services.

A recognized grassroots leader, Angelica plays a vital role in national immigration reform campaigns and has helped establish organizations and coalitions advocating for immigrant workers, youth, and families. She graduated from Occidental College in 1993 with dual B.A. degrees in History and Sociology and received an Honorary Doctorate in 2007.

Angelica serves on the boards of several organizations, including the California Wellness Foundation and the National Partnership for New Americans. She resides in Pasadena, CA, with her husband, Mayron Payes, and has two children, Ruben and Maya.