Lawrence Benito (he/him) is executive director at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. As executive director since 2012, he has overseen successful campaigns to pass landmark pro-immigrant policies at the state level, shepherded the expansion of essential immigrant services programs, and furthered ICIRR’s standing as a national leader in immigrant rights organizing. Since joining ICIRR in 2002, Lawrence has held multiple roles as a suburban-based community organizer, program director, and deputy director. He also acts as one of the organization’s in-house lobbyists, and is executive director of ICIRR’s sister organization, ICIRR Action (a 501(c)4 organization). 

Lawrence currently serves on the board of directors for Forefront. Previously, he was on the board of Chicago Public Media, and is a past-president of the Asian American Action Fund of Greater Chicago. On the national level, Lawrence serves as the board treasurer for the Fair Immigration Movement (FIRM), and on the executive committee for FIRM Action.

A Peace Corps alum and the son of immigrants from the Philippines, Lawrence lives in Woodlawn with his wife and four children.