Immigrants’ Rights

MALDEF strives to ensure all immigrants receive fair treatment under the law, and works to combat discriminatory policies in the private and public sectors.

Protecting Immigrants’ Rights

Throughout our history, we’ve been on the frontlines of some of the most important legal battles to protect immigrants’ rights, taking on unconstitutional federal, state, and local measures including California’s Proposition 187, Arizona’s SB 1070, and more recent restrictions in Texas in SB 4. We’ve challenged unlawful detention and raids, fought to protect the right of day laborers to seek work, and defended the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative that offers temporary relief to young immigrants brought to this country as children.

Today, MALDEF continues to work to eliminate barriers that prevent immigrants from achieving full integration into society, and to target private anti-immigrant discriminators as well.

Immigrants’ Rights

JUDGE GRANTS PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS-ACTION SETTLEMENT IN DISCRIMINATORY-LENDING LAWSUIT

PHOENIX— A federal judge has granted preliminary approval of a class-action settlement between OneAZ Credit Union and recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and other immigrants who allege they were denied loans and financial services based on their immigration status rather than their ability to repay.

MALDEF AND MUNICIPAL CREDIT UNION RESOLVE LAWSUIT

A recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) who challenged the denial of an automobile loan by a New York Credit Union has reached a confidential resolution of a lawsuit filed against that credit union. That lawsuit was filed by MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) on behalf of Jose Uri Perez Fernandez. The case was settled on a non-class basis to the satisfaction of the named Plaintiff and Defendant.

MALDEF FILES CLAIM ON BEHALF OF IMMIGRANT FOR DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT AND PRIVACY VIOLATIONS BY HARBOR-UCLA MEDICAL CENTER

LOS ANGELES –  A Latino civil rights organization is taking a first step toward a civil lawsuit and seeking $250,000 in damages from Harbor-UCLA Medical Center for an immigrant who was subjected to discriminatory and unlawful treatment while receiving medical treatment under continuous surveillance by federal immigration agents stationed in his room.