AUSTIN, TX – On Tuesday, January 21, 2014, MALDEF will return to court to demonstrate that the Texas public school finance system remains inequitable and inadequate. In a MALDEF victory for Texas children early last year, Travis County District Court Judge John K. Dietz held that the system was arbitrary, inequitable and inadequate under the Texas Constitution, detailing gross inequities for property-poor school districts and failures of the system for low income and English Language Learner (ELL) children. Last June, before issuing his final judgment, Judge Dietz decided to reopen the evidence and hold a supplementary hearing to examine the effect of legislative changes to the state’s educational system that were made after his initial ruling.
News Releases
MALDEF WELCOMES INTRODUCTION OF BIPARTISAN VOTING RIGHTS BILL, SEEKS NECESSARY IMPROVEMENT
LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, former Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), ranking Judiciary Committee member John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., and a bipartisan contingent of lawmakers introduced HR 3899, the Voting Rights Amendment Act, in the U.S. House of Representatives. Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick J. Leahy, D-VT has filed identical legislation in the Senate.
MALDEF MOURNS THE LOSS OF COLLABORATOR, ACTRESS AND ACTIVIST CARMEN ZAPATA
MALDEF SEEKS TO INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF DACA STUDENTS IN ARIZONA HIGHER EDUCATION LAWSUIT
MALDEF OPPOSES DISCRIMINATORY VOTING CHANGE PASSED BY TEXAS TOWN
MALDEF POSITION ON NEW JERSEY BALLOT QUESTION
Last November, the Latino community and its allies exercised a substantial and oft-remarked impact on the presidential election, resulting in renewed federal interest in addressing the policy priorities of the Latino community. At the same time, the growth of the Latino voting community has caused some to introduce and implement practices to deter and even prevent voter participation. One of the most important responses to such efforts is to ensure that every eligible voter takes the time and makes the effort to participate in every election, so that we see the same high levels of participation in off-year elections as in presidential elections. Even in this odd-numbered year, there are critical decisions of leadership and policy on ballots in many states across the country. Today, MALDEF releases its position in support of an important measure on the ballot in New Jersey. Perhaps this endorsement will help to make a decision on the measure, but what is always most important is that every voter decide and VOTE.
MALDEF RESPONDS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA’S SPEECH ON IMMIGRATION
MALDEF APPLAUDS CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR BROWN’S SIGNING OF THE TRUST ACT
MALDEF MOURNS THE PASSING OF LATINO LEADER JOSE ERNESTO MONTOYA
MALDEF FILES DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT AGAINST POMONA COLLEGE
MALDEF LOOKS FORWARD TO SECOND PHASE OF EDUCATION DISCRIMINATION CASE AFTER VICTORY IN TRIAL
MALDEF ASKS COURT TO BLOCK NEBRASKA FROM DENYING DRIVER’S LICENSES TO YOUTH PROTECTED UNDER FEDERAL DACA PROGRAM
LINCOLN, NE-Today, MALDEF’s Midwest Regional Office in Chicago filed a motion for preliminary injunction in a U.S. District Court in Nebraska. MALDEF asked the court to stop the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) from enforcing the policy and practice of denying driver’s licenses to immigrant youth whom the federal government has authorized to remain in the United States under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (“DACA”) program. The injunction would remain in place during the pendency of a lawsuit MALDEF filed in Lincoln, Nebraska, on May 31 of this year, challenging the DMV’s policy and practice.
THE FULL FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT STRIKES DOWN DISCRIMINATORY, ANTI-IMMIGRANT ORDINANCE IN FARMERS BRANCH, TEXAS
NEW ORLEANS, LA -In a 9-5 ruling issued Monday, the full United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit struck down an anti-immigrant, discriminatory ordinance in Farmers Branch, Texas that would have prohibited landlords from renting to immigrants that the city deemed unlawfully present and authorized arrest and prosecution of landlords and tenants found in violation of the law. Under the ordinance, all prospective renters would have been required to provide information about their immigration status and obtain a rental license from the city building inspector, who would be responsible for determining immigration status.
FOURTH CIRCUIT UPHOLDS DECISION TO BLOCK KEY PORTIONS OF SOUTH CAROLINA ANTI-IMMIGRANT LAW
RICHMOND, VA – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a lower court’s decision to block key components of SB 20, South Carolina’s Arizona-style anti-immigrant law. As a result, provisions of the law that would have criminalized daily interactions with immigrants present without status, as well as provisions pertaining to use of identification and registration immigration documents will remain blocked.