President Obama has nominated Thomas E. Perez as the next Secretary of Labor and if confirmed, would be the first and only Latino on the President’s second-term Cabinet team.
Perez, a first-generation Dominican-American, was the lead of the Civil Rights Division in the Justice Department since 2009 and would replace former Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis after her resignation in January.
“Tom is a dedicated public servant who has spent his career fighting to keep the American dream within reach for hardworking middle class families and those striving to get into the middle class,” said a White House official.
Perez was expected to be nominated by President Obama, and was a popular pick amongst labor and Latino groups.
His experience includes protecting worker’s rights and fighting worker exploitation and human trafficking, pushing for labor protections for domestic workers, and protecting immigrant workers from losing pay.
“He’s a first-generation American, so in a way his story is the immigrant story,” says Christine Owens, Executive Director of the National Employment Law Project. “He’s always been deeply committed to immigrant workers’ rights, and I do think he can bring both a professional and personal perspective as we implement immigration reform.”
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