LULAC: DOES AMERICA TODAY REFLECT OUR FOUNDERS' VISION OF INDEPENDENCE AS A LAND OF FREEDOM AND LIBERTY?

Nation's Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Says July 4th Must Be a Moment of Truth for a Nation Losing Its Way

Washington, D.C. — The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) calls upon Americans to ask ourselves a solemn and urgent question: Are the values our nation is embracing today reflective of the ideals the Founders envisioned when they declared independence from tyranny in 1776?

"This is not the America our Founders imagined," says Roman Palomares, LULAC National President and Chairman of the Board. "When we strip away citizenship from children born on U.S. soil, militarize our streets in the name of immigration enforcement, or let courts silence the will of the people, we are not upholding freedom — we are dismantling it. July 4th must be a mirror. If we look into it honestly, we must admit we're veering toward a tyranny of our own making."

The Fourth of July is a celebration of liberty and the pursuit of a more perfect union. Yet in 2025, those very principles are under siege, not from a foreign king, but from forces within our borders. We see a government seeking to criminalize immigration, deny basic health care to working families, erase protections for LGBTQIA Americans, restrict women's rights, suppress voters, and deport children and families under the cloak of night, often without due process and not even to their countries of origin.

"This nation is a nation of immigrants," says Juan Proaño, LULAC Chief Executive Officer. The attack on immigrants is an attack on America itself. When you target the communities who labor in our fields, teach our children, serve in our military, and power our economy, you are targeting the American Dream. On this Independence Day, we must all decide whose liberty we are defending."

From attempts to reverse birthright citizenship to voter suppression schemes designed to silence entire communities, the contradictions are glaring. Today's immigrant families are being targeted by executive actions and court rulings that create unequal tiers of justice across the states. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court's growing disregard for judicial consensus is leaving Americans at the mercy of zip-code justice.

Palomares concludes: "This is about our shared humanity, and the duty we have to protect the promises of America for the next generation. We must stand against a vision of our country that includes indefinite detention of children, deportation without judges, and a judiciary that disrespects even its own precedent. When presidents float ideas of third terms or openly embrace authoritarianism under the guise of patriotism, we must ask: What are we truly celebrating on the Fourth of July?"

This Independence Day must be a tipping point. We honor the past with action. The founding cry for freedom was never meant to serve the privileged few. It was a promise for all who call this land home. LULAC urges every American to rise in defense of liberty with votes, voices, and vigilance. Independence is not an inheritance. It is a responsibility.

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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization. Founded in 1929, LULAC is committed to advancing the rights and opportunities of Latino Americans through advocacy, community building, and education. With a growing network of councils nationwide, LULAC remains steadfast in its mission to protect and empower millions of Latinos, contributing daily to America's prosperity. For more information about LULAC and its initiatives, please visit www.LULAC.org.