News Releases Archives

MALDEF APPEALS RULING IN KENTUCKY CASE BARRING UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS FROM REGULAR TUITION

Apr 3, 2026 | Court Cases Education, News Releases

FRANKFORT, Kentucky – A Latino civil rights organization filed an appeal today from a district court decision to allow Kentucky to eliminate regular tuition rates for students without lawful immigration status living in the state.

MALDEF ANNOUNCES 2025-2026 LAW SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS AND RELEASES 2026-2027 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

Apr 3, 2026 | News Releases, Public Policy Education

LOS ANGELES – MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025-2026 Law School Scholarship Program. Since its founding in 1968, MALDEF has awarded scholarships to law students committed to furthering our mission of promoting and protecting the civil rights of the Latino community in the United States.

MALDEF NAMES JULIE GALLEGO VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Apr 1, 2026 | News Releases

LOS ANGELES – MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) has appointed Julie Gallego as Vice President of Communications and Media. Gallego had served in an interim role as vice president previously.

MALDEF AND GRADFIN REACH AGREEMENT IN LAWSUIT

Mar 12, 2026 | Court Cases Immigrants' Rights, DACA, News Releases

LOS ANGELES – A Colorado resident, who allegedly was denied services by a student loan refinancing and consultation company, has reached a confidential settlement agreement with the company.

MALDEF FILES CLAIM ON BEHALF OF IMMIGRANT FOR DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT AND PRIVACY VIOLATIONS BY HARBOR-UCLA MEDICAL CENTER

Mar 5, 2026 | Court Cases Freedom from Open and Obvious Bias and Racism, Court Cases Immigrants' Rights, News Releases

LOS ANGELES – A Latino civil rights organization is taking a first step toward a civil lawsuit and seeking $250,000 in damages from Harbor-UCLA Medical Center for an immigrant who was subjected to discriminatory and unlawful treatment while receiving medical treatment under continuous surveillance by federal immigration agents stationed in his room.

MAN WHO THREATENED MIGRANTS WITH A GUN IN EL PASO ORDERED TO PAY DAMAGES

Feb 24, 2026 | Court Cases Freedom from Open and Obvious Bias and Racism, Court Cases Immigrants' Rights, News Releases

SAN ANTONIO – A man who pointed a gun at migrants in El Paso and threatened them outside a church and a bus station was ordered by a state judge to pay damages for his harmful actions on Monday.

MALDEF SEEKS SUPREME COURT REVIEW OF VOTING RIGHTS DECISIONS IN TEXAS AND ARKANSAS

Feb 4, 2026 | News Releases, Voting Rights

LOS ANGELES– A Latino civil rights group is seeking Supreme Court review in two separate cases challenging voting rights restrictions in Texas and Arkansas under a section of the federal Voting Rights Act, according to petitions filed with the court last week.

MALDEF MOURNS THE PASSING OF DENVER CIVIC LEADER AND FORMER MALDEF BOARD MEMBER MANUEL L. MARTINEZ

Feb 3, 2026 | News Releases

LOS ANGELES – MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) mourns the passing of Manuel L. Martinez, a distinguished Denver attorney, civic leader, and longtime MALDEF board member. He died on January 7, 2026, at 74.

MALDEF SEEKS TO INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF STUDENTS TO DEFEND VIRGINIA TUITION POLICY

Jan 16, 2026 | Court Cases Education, Court Cases Immigrants' Rights, News Releases

Richmond, VA – A Latino civil rights organization filed a motion to intervene in a federal lawsuit seeking to eliminate regular tuition for students without lawful immigration status in Virginia, according to papers filed in federal court Thursday.

ILLINOIS GOV. J.B. PRITZKER SIGNS BILL PROTECTING SAFE ACCESS TO COURTS FOR ALL

Dec 9, 2025 | News Releases, Public Policy Immigrants' Rights

CHICAGO, IL – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law the Court Access, Safety, and Participation Act, which prevents immigration officers and others from making civil arrests at courthouses in the state.

MALDEF STATEMENT ON SUPREME COURT ORDER ALLOWING NEW TEXAS REDISTRICTING MAPS TO BE USED FOR 2026

Dec 4, 2025 | News Releases, Voting Rights

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Supreme Court Thursday granted a stay of a district court order that had blocked Texas’ mid-decade congressional redistricting plan, clearing the way for the new map to be used in the 2026 elections.

MALDEF HONORS LATINO LEADERS AT SAN ANTONIO AWARDS BANQUET

Nov 29, 2025 | News Releases

SAN ANTONIO – MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) paid tribute on Friday to three Latino leaders who have dedicated their careers to promoting and protecting the rights of the Latino community.

MALDEF MOURNS THE PASSING OF TEXAS LEADER AND FORMER MALDEF CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBER ALICIA R. CHACÓN

Nov 26, 2025 | News Releases

LOS ANGELES – MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) mourns the passing of Alicia R. Chacón, a former national chair and board member of MALDEF. She died Tuesday at 87.

MALDEF APPEALS COURT RULING IN DISCRIMINATORY LENDING CASE

Nov 20, 2025 | Court Cases Immigrants' Rights, DACA, News Releases

PHOENIX – A Latino civil rights organization is appealing a district court decision to compel arbitration in a class-action lawsuit against a Texas credit union. The lawsuit challenged GECU Federal Credit Union’s (GECU) policy of unlawfully refusing to consider loans and financial services to certain immigrants because of their status rather than their credit-worthiness.

JUDGE ALLOWS IMMIGRANT STUDENTS TO INTERVENE TO DEFEND KENTUCKY TUITION POLICY

Nov 20, 2025 | Court Cases Education, Court Cases Immigrants' Rights, News Releases

FRANKFORT, KY– Students represented by MALDEF, a Latino civil rights organization, can intervene in a federal-government lawsuit seeking to eliminate regular tuition rates for students without lawful immigration status in Kentucky, according to a court order issued yesterday.

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