Immigration: Community, Policy, and People

Did you know . . . that Fairfield County has the largest concentration of immigrants in the state of Connecticut? How are current national policies and enforcement efforts in our state affecting our immigrant neighbors and communities? Join Kica Matos, one of Time Magazine's Most Influential People in 2026 for an important conversation with community immigration leaders and advocates about the challenges facing our communities today. Welcome remarks will be made by Evonne Klein, former First Selectman of Darien. About Kica Matos Kica Matos is president of the National Immigration Law Center and Immigrant Justice Fund. She has also served as Vice President of Initiatives at the Vera Institute of Justice, the Director of Immigrant Rights and Racial Justice at the Center for Community Change, and Deputy Mayor in the city of New Haven. She also worked as an assistant federal defender for death sentenced inmates and with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Amnesty International on death penalty and criminal justice issues. About the Panelists Marissa Muñoz is Executive Director of Building One Community – The Center for Immigrant Opportunity, a Stamford nonprofit that helps immigrants and their families integrate into the community by providing free English classes, job training, legal assistance, family support, and educational programs Catalina Horak, a Darien resident, is Executive Director of The American Immigrant Legal Clinic, which expands access to legal services and community– based protection for immigrants across the state. Glenn Formica is Director of Legal Services at The American Immigrant Legal Clinic. He is an experienced attorney with more than 25 years of practice experience representing individuals and businesses with complex legal matters in civil litigation and immigration. Nancy Coughlin, a Darien resident, is CEO of Person-to-Person, a Darien-based nonprofit that provides food, clothing, financial assistance, and other essential support to individuals and families working toward stability in Fairfield County. Moderator Mirellise Vazquez, a Darien resident, is Vice President of Investment at The Connecticut Project. She is also Co-Chair of the CT Council for Philanthropy’s Immigrant Communities Funders Working Group.