Voting Rights

LOS ANGELES – Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) issued the following statement in response to Alabama’s decision to amend its lawsuit filed last year that seeks to force the Census Bureau to exclude undocumented immigrants from the 2020 Census data used for reapportionment:

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit yesterday vacated a trial court’s ruling that held that the Trump administration’s addition of a citizenship question was not intentionally discriminatory.

LOS ANGELES – A federal court in Maryland should vacate its ruling that found the Trump administration’s addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 Census was not intentionally discriminatory, according to recently filed court documents.

GREENBELT, Md. – A federal judge in Maryland today issued an order permanently barring the Trump administration from placing a citizenship question on the 2020 Census in any form.

LOS ANGELES – Donald J. Trump conceded today that his administration will no longer pursue a legal fight to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. The president’s statement comes in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling late last month and federal court orders blocking the addition of a citizenship question.

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.