MALDEF

MALDEF STATEMENT ON FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS OPINION ON ANTI-IMMIGRANT TEXAS SB 4 LAW


March 13, 2018


Los Angeles, CA - Please attribute the following statement on the decision from a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit overturning most of a preliminary injunction barring implementation of the bulk of the anti-immigrant Texas SB 4 law to Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF:

"While it is disappointing that these three judges of the Fifth Circuit could not discern the many inherent and unconstitutional defects in the language and in the enactment of the extremely ill-advised SB 4, we note that this is a panel decision on a preliminary injunction. Thus, there remain opportunities to develop the claims against SB 4 before any final decision in the case. Moreover, there remain options in the Fifth Circuit and the Supreme Court to revisit this faulty decision as to preliminary relief.

In addition, the three judges did adopt limiting interpretations of SB 4 that would restrict some of its nefarious potential effects. Finally, the judges' decision also leaves SB 4 subject to numerous challenges once implemented, and to potential other legal restrictions.

In short, the battle against SB 4 is far from over. After consulting its clients, MALDEF will pursue the most appropriate legal course to continue to challenge and restrict SB 4. We remain confident that this horrific law will ultimately find its rightful place in the dustbin of history. In the meantime, we must continue to work together to limit the damage to the community that this Texas legislative abomination could wreak."

Read a timeline of SB 4 developments here.



Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation's leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the "Latino Legal Voice for Civil Rights in America" MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access. For more information on MALDEF, please visit: www.maldef.org.

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