Voting Rights

LOS ANGELES – Donald J. Trump announced this morning on Twitter that he will be making a statement about the administration’s continuing attempt to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. The administration cannot circumvent the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling late last month and federal court orders blocking the immediate addition of a citizenship question.

LOS ANGELES – U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel today adopted a scheduling order allowing discovery to begin immediately in the racial intent claims brought by MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) in Lupe v. Ross et al.

LOS ANGELES – A federal judge in Maryland held a telephonic conference today following the president’s tweet that is at odds with the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling and the federal government’s own statement to the court indicating the Trump administration would be moving forward with Census 2020 without a citizenship question.

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. District Court Judge George J. Hazel in Maryland asked the U.S. Department of Commerce this evening to confirm that it has given up its fight to include a citizenship question on the 2020 Census. The Commerce Department has until Monday, July 8, to respond.

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Supreme Court today required the Trump administration to go back and provide an adequate public justification for adding a citizenship question to Census 2020.

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Department of Justice today sent a letter to the U.S. Supreme Court asking the justices to rule on the Equal Protection claim currently before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth District and a district court in Maryland.

LOS ANGELES – A federal judge in Maryland will determine whether newly discovered evidence indicates unconstitutional discriminatory intent was behind the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 Census after an appellate court granted a request to remand the case to the district court today.

LOS ANGELES – A federal court in Maryland today issued its opinion explaining its previously-issued response to a request by MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) to reconsider whether the Trump administration conspired with others to intentionally discriminate against Latinos and non-citizens when it added a citizenship question to the 2020 Census.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) issued the statements below in response to today’s ruling by U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel granting a plaintiffs’ motion to reconsider whether the Trump administration conspired with others to intentionally discriminate against Latinos and non-citizens when it added a citizenship question to the 2020 Census.

GREENBELT, Md – Newly discovered evidence contradicts the Trump administration’s claims that it added a citizenship question to the 2020 Census simply to enforce the federal Voting Rights Act, and confirms that the purpose was to deprive Latinos of constitutionally protected political representation.

WASHINGTON, D.C.– A federal court should reconsider whether the Trump administration sought to intentionally discriminate against Latinos and immigrants of color when it added a citizenship question to the 2020 Census, according to court documents filed today by civil rights groups.