WATCH: Padilla Keynotes 2026 NALEO Annual Conference

LOS ANGELES, CA - Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) delivered a keynote address at the 43rd National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Annual Conference, highlighting the impact Latino communities have made across the country. Padilla previously served as NALEO President, where he worked to advance Latino representation in local, state, and federal governments across the country.

In his remarks, Padilla encouraged Latino leaders to make their voices heard to continue fighting for representation and equal protections.

"50 years ago, Congressman Ed Roybal and his allies founded NALEO because at the time, too many Latinos were shut out of participating in our democracy," said Senator Padilla. "But 50 years later, we're still fighting: for representation, to be treated with dignity, for equal protection under the law, and to fully participate in our democracy. With Ed Roybal's vision and a lot of work, we have made progress. Just look at this room. Never before in American history have there been more Latinos registered to vote or more Latinos elected to office."

Padilla highlighted that although the Latino community has made tremendous progress, the Trump Administration continues to instill fear through increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence in our cities and attacks on voting rights. Padilla referenced the deaths of Ruben Ray Martinez, Silverio Villegas González, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, and Joan Sebastian Guerrero, who were killed by federal immigration enforcement officers.

"When you stop and think about it, I know you know just as well as I do that victims of ICE's terror aren't just our constituents; they're our neighbors, they're our friends, they're our family," continued Senator Padilla. "And these aren't just isolated incidents. They are deliberate. They are the predictable result of an Administration that has chosen to try to govern through fear and intimidation. Today, too many Latinos are afraid to report crimes, to seek medical care, to go about their daily lives because they don't know whether they'll come home to their family at the end of the day."

Padilla concluded his remarks with a call to action for NALEO and Latino communities to push back against the Trump Administration's threats against, and demonization of, immigrants and communities of color.

"Will we allow fear to divide us, or will we use our power to organize and to mobilize to defend our democracy that generations before us fought so hard to build?" concluded Senator Padilla. "This is our challenge, and it's our responsibility to stand up and speak up and step up. We inherited more Latino political power than the previous generation. And by God, we will not be the generation that lets Trump take us backwards. So let's get to work."

Following his remarks, Padilla joined California Governor Gavin Newsom for a fireside chat moderated by Erica Bernal-Martinez, Chief Executive Officer for NALEO and NALEO Educational Fund.

Video of Padilla's keynote address is available here.

Video of today's NALEO conference and Padilla's fireside chat with Newsom is available here.

Transcript of Padilla's keynote address is available below:

Thank you, NALEO. Thank you, NALEO family.

Is it still good morning, or is it almost a good afternoon? Good afternoon by 11 minutes. We'll try to get back on track because something tells me some of you want to watch a certain game that just started. But look, I wouldn't miss this for anything. It feels very much like a homecoming, and so let me begin by thanking my tocaya for that warm introduction, and to say happy anniversary, NALEO. 50 years.

Let's all continue to give thanks to CEO Erica Bernal-Martinez. To Chairman Brian Colon, and everyone whose leadership over the years has made NALEO one of the most important organizations in our country. And that includes my dear friend Arturo Vargas, who's here today.

Look, you just heard from the man himself, from Dan Maldonado. That 50 years ago, Congressman Ed Roybal and his allies founded NALEO because at the time, too many Latinos were shut out of participating in our democracy.

We've come a long way. But 50 years later, we're still fighting. For representation, to be treated with dignity, for equal protection under the law, and to fully participate in our democracy. With Ed Roybal's vision and a lot of work, we have made progress. Just look at this room. Never before in American history have there been more Latinos registered to vote or more Latinos elected to office.

Never before have we held more seats or had more political power. But while we celebrate progress, millions of Latinos across the country, right now, are wondering if anyone, including their elected representatives, is fighting for them. For their families, and friends. For people like Ruben Ray Martinez. Silverio Villegas Gonzales. Lorenzo Salgado Arajo. And Juan Sebastian Guerrero.

All killed at the hands of Trump's ICE. Ruben was a United States citizen. And at just 23 years old, he had a whole life ahead of him. Silverio was a father of three, and had just dropped off his sons at school. And Lorenzo was the husband who proudly provided for his family. He was on his way to work. And Juan, in what may or may not be another case of mistaken identity, was also here with lawful work authorization.

NALEO, we are in the fight of our lives, for our lives. When you stop and think about it, I know you know just as well as I do that victims of ICE's terror aren't just our constituents; they're our neighbors, they're our friends, they're our family.

And these aren't just isolated incidents. They are deliberate. They are the predictable result of an administration that has chosen to try to govern through fear and intimidation. Today, too many Latinos are afraid to report crimes, to seek medical care, to go about their daily lives because they don't know whether they'll come home to their family at the end of the day.

And let me be clear about this: this is not just about immigration. The same forces targeting our communities are also working to silence our political power. They're manipulating congressional maps. They're attacking voting rights. They're undermining confidence in our elections. Just like they're trying to decide who gets to be an American, they're trying to decide whose voices' count in our elections and whose don't. We cannot allow them to get their way.

Now I know what happens when this administration tries to silence people who speak out. You remember.

But I also hope you remember what happened immediately after I was forced to the ground and handcuffed. I stood back up. And we all have to keep standing up and speaking up, because if they can intimidate people out of the neighborhoods today, you know they're going to try to intimidate them away from the polls on election day. They know Latino political power is growing. They know our votes matter.

Latino political power is MAGA's worst nightmare, and that's why the next 112 days are so important. Not just because there's an election, but because we must decide what kind of country we will leave for our children and our grandchildren.

Will we allow fear to divide us, or will we use our power to organize and to mobilize to defend our democracy that generations before us fought so hard to build? This is our challenge, and it's our responsibility to stand up and speak up and step up. We inherited more Latino political power than the previous generation. And by God, we will not be the generation that lets Trump take us backwards. So let's get to work. And with that, let me call to the stage NALEO CEO Erica Bernal-Martinez.

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