WASHINGTON, D.C. – MALDEF President and General Counsel Thomas A. Saenz released the following statement in response to today’s hearing in the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, which questioned the role of “birthright citizenship,” a longstanding emblem of equality and inclusion:
News Releases
MALDEF DEMANDS SYSTEMIC ELECTORAL CHANGES IN FALLBROOK PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
FALLBROOK, CA – This week, MALDEF sent a letter to several Fallbrook Public Utility District Board Members, demanding that the system for electing board members be changed to comply with the California Voting Rights Act. Fallbrook PUD currently elects board members using an at-large method that has denied Latino residents the opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. MALDEF demands the system be changed to a district-based system.
MALDEF CONDEMNS “THE REAL” SEGMENT STEREOTYPING MEXICAN CULTURE
LOS ANGELES, CA – MALDEF condemns the decision by producers of Fox daily talk show “The Real” to dress their hosts in costumes stereotyping Mexican culture during a recent segment on cooking quesadillas on March 10, 2015. Hosts, Tamera Mowry-Housley; Jeannie Mai; and Loni Love were adorned in serapes, sombreros, and fake mustaches in an insensitive and enormously simplified stereotype of Mexican culture. MALDEF President and General Counsel, Thomas A. Saenz, sent a letter to Peter Rice, Chairman and CEO of the Fox Broadcasting Company, condemning the segment. The letter, in part, stated:
MALDEF SUPPORTS LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO HELP FIX UNCONSTITUTIONAL TEXAS SCHOOL FINANCING SYSTEM
AUSTIN, TX – MALDEF strongly supports a bill introduced late last week by Texas State Representatives Armando Walle and Mary Gonzalez, HB 3671, the only comprehensive school finance bill filed during the 84th Texas Legislative Session. MALDEF, Intercultural Development Research Association, and The CPPP (Center for Public Policy Priorities) served as a resource to Reps. Walle and Gonzalez on the bill. This legislation aims to bring Texas closer to realizing equitable and adequate educational opportunities for all Texas students than ever before and reduce inefficiencies in the school finance system.
CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLYMEMBER DAVID CHIU INTRODUCES BILL EXTENDING PROTECTIONS AGAINST IMMIGRATION-RELATED EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION
SACRAMENTO, CA – As MALDEF continues to challenge discriminatory practices across the country against individuals seeking employment under the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans program (DAPA) and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), California Assemblymember David Chiu last week introduced AB 1065, a bill extending state-law employment protections against immigration-related discrimination, a bill that MALDEF sponsors.
MALDEF SUPPORTS CALIFORNIA BILL TO PROTECT RIGHTS OF MINORS SEEKING JUDICIAL REDRESS FOR SUFFERING HARM
SACRAMENTO, CA – MALDEF proudly sponsors AB 560, a bill introduced last week by California Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez (D-51), that would bar immigration status from consideration in civil court proceedings in which child victims seek damages for intentional or negligent acts that harm them. The bill closes an unintentional loophole in SB 1818 (Romero), enacted in 2002, which was designed to protect the rights of California workers by limiting the consideration of immigration status in cases by workers to enforce employment and other laws.
FEDERAL JUDGE RULES THAT LAWSUIT UNDER CALIFORNIA TRUST ACT MUST BE HEARD IN STATE COURT
LOS ANGELES, CA – Late Monday, United States District Court Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald granted Plaintiffs’ motion to remand a lawsuit for violation of the California TRUST Act back to State Superior Court in Los Angeles. MALDEF, together with co-counsel from the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) and the Immigrant Rights Clinic at the University of California at Irvine School of Law, filed the action in state court on October 8, 2014.
AFTER JUDGE DENIES INTERVENTION THEN TEMPORARILY HALTS ADMINISTRATIVE IMMIGRATION RELIEF, MALDEF REACTS WITH COMMITMENT TO APPEAL
BROWNSVILLE, TX – After a federal judge in Brownsville, Texas, late Monday night announced his order to temporarily halt administrative relief, MALDEF announced plans to appeal the judge’s earlier denial of intervention to three individuals intending to seek deferred action under President Obama’s announced program of reasoned prosecutorial discretion. The programs that are temporarily halted are known as DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents) and the expansion of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).
MALDEF APPEALS EXCLUSION FROM LAWSUIT OF MOTHERS AFFECTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ON IMMIGRATION (DAPA)
BROWNSVILLE, TX- Today, MALDEF appealed the decision of U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen, denying intervention of three mothers who would potentially qualify for relief under the administrative action on immigration announced last year by President Barack Obama. On February 11, 2015, the court denied the mothers’ request to intervene in the case as parties, but agreed to consider their legal arguments. The appeal filed today will be heard in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
MALDEF AND CO-COUNSEL FILE LAWSUITS AGAINST NEW MEXICO TAXATION AND REVENUE DEPARTMENT
SANTA FE, NM – Today, MALDEF filed two lawsuits in state district court against the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department and Secretary Demesia Padilla (collectively, “TRD”) for unlawfully withholding millions of dollars from immigrant taxpayers using federal Individual Tax Identification Numbers (“ITINs”) to file their tax returns. The law firm of Freedman, Boyd, Hollander Goldberg Urias & Ward, P.A., and the United Workers Center of NM, are co-counsel in the case.
MALDEF SEEKS TO INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY THE PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE ACTION ON IMMIGRATION
BROWNSVILLE, TX – Last week, MALDEF and pro bono counsel, O’Melveny & Myers and Frank Costilla, filed a motion to intervene on behalf of three individuals who would qualify for relief under the administrative action on immigration announced last year by President Barack Obama. Texas and other states and state officials have asked a federal court for an immediate injunction to stop administration officials from moving forward with the actions announced by the President. The motion was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Brownsville Division.
FEDERAL COURT PERMANENTLY BLOCKS DISCRIMINATORY ARIZONA BAN ON DRIVERS LICENSES FOR IMMIGRANT YOUTH
PHOENIX, AZ – Late yesterday, a federal district court judge in Arizona permanently blocked a ban on drivers’ licenses for immigrant youth ordered by Governor Jan Brewer. The ruling is the latest in a series of victories for DREAMers in Arizona Dream Act Coalition v. Brewer, a lawsuit brought by civil rights groups challenging the state’s denial of licenses to immigrants who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) under a federal program.
CITY OF BELLFLOWER AGREES TO LET VOTERS DECIDE ON DISTRICT ELECTIONS
BELLFLOWER, CA – Today, the City of Bellflower voted to place on the November 2016 ballot an ordinance that would change the at-large election system to a by-district system for each of the seats on its City Council. The council supports the measure as the most appropriate course of action to ensure optimal geographic representation on the council, and to ensure that all city residents are able to elect candidates of their choice.
MALDEF SUES JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. FOR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST EMPLOYEE WITH HIV
LOS ANGELES, CA – MALDEF filed a lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase & Co. (Chase) in Los Angeles County Superior Court late last week for unlawful discrimination against former Vice President of Community Development Banking, Jesus Leon. The suit seeks damages for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).
NINTH CIRCUIT REAFFIRMS MALDEF DESEGREGATION TRIUMPHS IN TUCSON, ARIZONA
LOS ANGELES, CA – Earlier this week, in two orders, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reaffirmed steps taken to move toward favorable resolution of the historic desegregation case, Mendoza v. Tucson Unified School District (TUSD). Under the court-adopted plan to resolve the 40-year old case, TUSD must, among other things, implement culturally relevant courses at its schools. In two separate appeals, the Court denied the state of Arizona’s attempt to intervene in the case to challenge the implementation of the ethnic studies curriculum, and it denied TUSD’s attempt to circumvent District Court orders that expedite steps to eliminate segregation within the District. The case was filed by MALDEF in 1974 in federal district court in Tucson.