Bipartisan Policy Center Welcomes New Director of Immigration Policy Theresa C. Brown

Washington, D.C. – The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is pleased to announce that Theresa Cardinal Brown has joined as its director of immigration policy. In this role, she will lead the work of BPC’s Immigration Task Force, which is co-chaired by former Secretaries Condoleezza Rice and Henry Cisneros and former Governors Haley Barbour and Ed Rendell.

“We welcome Theresa and look forward to her leadership of the task force,” said BPC President Jason Grumet. “Her broad-based knowledge and 20-plus years in immigration policy will be essential as the task force continues to encourage reform.”

Previously, Brown served as president and CEO of Cardinal North Strategies, LLC, providing strategic advice and subject matter assistance to a variety of clients. Before founding her own firm, she served in various policy positions at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under two secretaries. In one stint, Brown was an attaché for DHS, representing the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security in Ottawa, Canada. Later, she directed the Immigration Task Force for DHS in 2006 and served as a policy advisor on immigration and border issues at U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Before her government service, Brown gained several years of experience in immigration law and policy, including serving as Director of Immigration and Border Policy for nearly five years at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and as an advocacy associate for immigration at the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Brown holds a bachelor of arts in both international relations and economics from the University of Delaware.

Brown is replacing Rebecca Tallent, who recently left BPC to work on immigration policy for Speaker Boehner.

“I’m thrilled to have Theresa join BPC’s team. With immigration reform on the agenda in 2014, we welcome such a strong leader at the helm,” said former Governor Haley Barbour. “Her keen knowledge of both the policy and the politics of immigration reform will be a strong asset for BPC.”

“Immigration reform is bound to dominate the congressional debate this year. We needed someone who could hit the ground running on day one,” said former Governor Ed Rendell. “We’ve found that in Theresa Brown. I look forward to working with her on these pressing issues.”

BPC’s Immigration Task Force plans to release new analyses and policy recommendations this year, as well as continue to host public events. This month, the task force will travel to Palo Alto, Calif. and Philadelphia for public events with local government and community leaders. For more information on BPC’s Immigration Task Force, please visit our website.