Guillermo Linares

2011 Great Immigrants

Guillermo Linares

Born in Dominican Republic

Guillermo Linares, who grew up poor in the Dominican Republic and was unable to speak English when he arrived in the Bronx at age 14 represented the 72nd assembly district in Manhattan in the New York State Assembly until 2013. A leading advocate of immigrant rights, he also served as the commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. As a New York City Council Member, he became the city’s first Dominican elected to public office, in 1991. Updated 2013