News Releases

Civil Rights Organizations File Suit Against City Of Escondido Over Unconstitutional Ordinance

Nov 4, 2006 | ,

ESCONDIDO, CA – A coalition of civil rights organizations and law firms announced a lawsuit they filed today against the City of Escondido, CA, on the grounds that the City’s anti-immigration ordinance is unconstitutional and illegal under federal and state law. In a demand letter issued last week, the coalition urged the City Council to avoid spending taxpayer dollars on a lawsuit defending the unconstitutional ordinance, and pressed instead for the measure to be repealed before the November 18 implementation date. The City has not responded to the letter as of this date.

MALDEF Appeals Denial Of Preliminary Injunction On Prop. 200 Voter Restrictions

Sep 13, 2006 | ,

PHOENIX, AZ – Yesterday, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), petitioned the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to review the denial of a preliminary injunction against the voting restrictions of Arizona’s Proposition 200. MALDEF earlier sought a preliminary injunction to prevent U.S. citizens from having to meet difficult and discriminatory new identification requirements in order to vote in the upcoming primary and general elections. In addition, MALDEF sought to remove new “proof of citizenship” requirements that have prevented thousands of voter applicants from being placed on the rolls for the upcoming elections. In an order yesterday, a lower court denied MALDEF’s request.

MALDEF Hails Senate Passage Of Voting Rights Act Ad A Victory For Latino Empowerment And Democracy

Jul 21, 2006 | ,

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) applauded the United States Senate today for its passage of S. 2703, the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, and Cesar Chavez Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006. The Senate reauthorized the landmark legislation by a vote of 98-0. This vote total marks the greatest number by which the Senate has ever approved the VRA.

MALDEF Files Lawsuit Challenging Prop 200

May 10, 2006 | ,

PHOENIX, AZ – Today, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) filed suit in federal court challenging the voter registration and identification provisions of Proposition 200. MALDEF filed the case on behalf of individual voters and voter registration applicants as well as the following organizations: Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, Valle del Sol, Friendly House, Chicanos Por La Causa and the Arizona Hispanic Community Forum.