Demián Bichir’s new real-life role will put him in the middle of the immigration rights debate…

The 50-year-old Mexican actor has been appointed an ambassador for the American Civil Liberties Union to oversee immigration rights.

Bichir said he hopes to represent Latinos living and working in the United States, according to Hollywood.com.

“I’m going to be giving 12 million people a voice that they don’t have,” said Bichir, who earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of an illegal immigrant gardener living in East Los Angeles in A Better Life. “I get to go to Congress and the White House and host screenings… and pretty much tell everyone what this community actually (does) for us.”

Bichir currently stars in FX’s critically acclaimed drama, The Bridge,” which recently earned a Peabody Award.

The series, set on the Texas/Mexico border, shines a spotlight on the woes of the region.