The White House announced Tuesday that Cecilia Muñoz will replace Melody Barnes as the director of the White House’s Domestic Policy Council. Muñoz has been at the center of a debate over the Obama administration’s immigration policies. “Muñoz’s unparalleled experience as an immigration policy expert both inside government, as the chief advisor on immigration the last three years, and her many years outside of government at the National Council of La Raza and Catholic Charities ensures the issue will receive the needed expertise and finesse at the highest levels of government,” said Angela Kelley, vice president of immigration policy and advocacy at the Center for American Progress.

“Muñoz is a strong leader who has done a magnificent job advocating for a wide array of issues that directly affect our families,” said Maria S. Pesqueira, executive director and CEO of Mujeres Latinas en Acción.