The Board of the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law (the Center), Foundation Names Sergio Perez as New Executive Director.

Photo courtesy of Human Rights and Constitutional Law News Release

LOS ANGELES, CA (MPG) - Sergio Perez has been named the Executive Director of the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law (the Center) Foundation, a legal nonprofit with a legacy of impact litigation that has protected hundreds of thousands of immigrants, children, and detained people. The Center also provides ongoing training and technical support to direct legal service providers while addressing systemic injustices. 

“I am excited to join the Center and its amazing team. Our immigrant and refugee communities are under constant attack by the Trump administration, which acts without bounds in its war on the rights and humanity of the adults and children who seek peace in the United States. I look forward to continuing the Center’s legacy in securing dignity and respect for our most vulnerable, while centering the expertise and needs of the community,” Perez said.

The Center’s decades of litigation and advocacy have led to landmark cases that have led to the rights of immigrants and refugees being respected. Among many other things, the Center’s work has helped ensure that:

• Undocumented children can attend public schools (Plyler v. Doe);
• The rights of detained immigrant minors in the U.S. are protected and nationwide standards for their care and release are upheld (Reno v. Flores); and,
• Upon arrest, immigrants are provided with a written advisal of their legal rights and time to consult with attorneys before they are interrogated (Lopez v. INS)

Perez will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Center, manage its staff and budget, and help direct its litigation, training, and advocacy efforts.

Perez has worked within the fields of civil rights and the abuse of government power for nearly 15 years. Upon graduating from Yale Law School, he joined the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division as a trial attorney, investigating and litigating allegations of unconstitutional policing practices across the United States and its territories. He was part of the team that investigated and prosecuted Arizona’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office for racial profiling and other unlawful policing practices, including discrimination of undocumented persons. 

Perez also previously served as the Executive Director of Orange County's Office of Independent Review (OIR). OIR has oversight authority over justice-related county agencies, including the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Office of the District Attorney. He also previously worked with the Los Angeles County Office of the Inspector General to investigate allegations of excessive force within the County's juvenile halls and camps. He then served as chief author of a public report that brought to light troubling practices and ultimately led to the elimination of pepper spray in those facilities. 

Perez is a Los Angeles native, the son of formerly undocumented immigrants from Mexico, and the first in his family to graduate from high school.

Perez’s proven track record as a leader, combined with a deep passion for civil rights and constitutional law, helps to further advance the mission of the Center, which celebrates its 45th anniversary this year. 

To learn more about the Center and our work, please visit www.centerforhumanrights.org