News Releases
MALDEF TO HONOR LATINO LEADERS AT 2017 ANNUAL AWARDS GALA IN LOS ANGELES
STATEMENT ON APPOINTMENT OF MALDEF NATIONAL SENIOR COUNSEL TO LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT JUDGESHIP
LOS ANGELES – Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), released the following statement today on the appointment of Victor G. Viramontes as a Los Angeles County Superior Judge. Viramontes has been national senior counsel at MALDEF since 2010, and previously worked as a staff attorney from 2001 to 2005:
SB 4 FACT SHEET
Texas Senate Bill 4, the so-called “sanctuary cities” bill signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott and scheduled to take effect on Sept. 1, 2017, was blocked, in large part, by a federal court order in late August. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit will hear oral argument on the preliminary injunction in the case on Nov. 7. Here is a list of significant dates, along with links to legal documents and statements:
MALDEF STATEMENT ON FEDERAL COURT BLOCK OF TRUMP ORDER BANNING TRANSGENDER PEOPLE FROM MILITARY SERVICE
(San Antonio, TX) Please attribute the following statement on Monday’s decision by a federal court judge blocking the Trump administration’s ban on transgender people serving in the military to Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund):
MALDEF STATEMENT ON DETENTION OF 10-YEAR-OLD ROSA MARIA HERNANDEZ BY BORDER PATROL AGENTS
(Los Angeles, CA) Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), released the following statement today in response to the detention of Rosa Maria Hernandez, a 10-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who underwent emergency gallbladder surgery in Texas. Rosa, a Mexican national, was detained by Border Patrol agents at the hospital where she was recovering and transferred to a San Antonio immigration detention facility for minors. She remains in custody and separated from her family.
FEDERAL JUDGE KEEPS MEDI-CAL EQUALITY LAWSUIT IN CALIFORNIA STATE COURT SYSTEM
MALDEF WARNS CITY OF LODI OF LEGAL ACTION OVER ELECTION SYSTEM
MALDEF ATTORNEY CELINA MORENO NAMED INTERIM SOUTHWEST REGIONAL COUNSEL
MALDEF STATEMENT ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S CRUEL AND SENSELESS IMMIGRATION DEMANDS
MALDEF STATEMENT ON NEW REPORT INDICATING LASD PROVIDED DETAILED INMATE INFORMATION DIRECTLY TO ICE
(Los Angeles, CA) Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), released the following statement today in response to a new report by the Office of Inspector General County of Los Angeles. The report found Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department staff shared detailed information about inmates held in its jails directly with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
MALDEF STATEMENT ON ENACTMENT OF CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL 54
California Senate Bill 54, which enacts important limits on cooperation by state and local officials with federal immigration authorities, was signed into law today by Gov. Jerry Brown. Please attribute the following statement to Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund).
MALDEF STATEMENT ON SETTLEMENT IN CHALLENGE TO PASADENA, TX ELECTION SYSTEM
(Pasadena, TX) – Pasadena Mayor Jeff Wagner and MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) announced today that the City and plaintiffs have reached a settlement of the litigation in Patino v. City of Pasadena, which was a challenge to Pasadena’s election system that was adopted through a charter amendment approved in a 2013 election.
MALDEF STATEMENT ON APPEAL OF SB 4 RULING
(Los Angeles, CA) – Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), released the following statement today announcing that MALDEF filed a notice of cross-appeal of U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia’s ruling in the lawsuit against Texas SB 4. The cross-appeal follows Texas’ initial notice of appeal after Judge Garcia enjoined most of the key provisions of SB 4.
MALDEF HONORS EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS OF THREE INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR ROLES IN ADVANCING LATINO CAUSES
(San Antonio, TX) – Texas Senator Sylvia R. Garcia, Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez, and visual artist Jesse Treviño were honored Friday at the 2017 MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) San Antonio Gala. The annual event brings together individuals, corporation and law firms dedicated to advancing Latino causes and civil rights in the United States.