Court Cases Immigrants’ Rights

MALDEF STATEMENT ON COURT RULING AGAINST STATE OF TEXAS IN SB 4 LAWSUIT

LOS ANGELES – Please attribute the following statement on a federal court’s dismissal of a Texas lawsuit seeking preemptive approval of the anti-immigrant law Texas SB 4 to Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF: “In a well-reasoned written decision, United States District Judge Sam Sparks yesterday rebuked Texas state Attorney General Ken Paxton’s premature Austin-based litigation to defend the constitutionally-flawed SB 4. Recognizing that the state was seeking an improper advisory opinion when it filed the preemptive lawsuit challenging some of the major opponents of the proposed SB 4, including MALDEF, yesterday’s decision leaves the constitutionality of the enacted SB 4 to be determined by the proper federal court in San Antonio, where motions for preliminary injunction are now pending.

FEDERAL COURT RULES LAWSUIT ALLEGING LENDING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST IMMIGRANTS BY WELLS FARGO CAN GO FORWARD

San Francisco, CA – An argument by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. that federal law permits the bank to discriminate against certain immigrants was rejected by a federal judge, ruling in a lawsuit alleging that the financial giant illegally denied qualified applicants, including college students, loans because of their alienage or immigration status.

STATEMENT ON DISMISSAL OF SB 4 LAWSUIT AGAINST MALDEF BY STATE OF TEXAS

LOS ANGELES – On May 8, the State of Texas named MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) in a preemptive lawsuit against those with the temerity to publicly challenge Texas SB 4, the anti-immigrant statute signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott, based solely on MALDEF’s stated intention to bring a court challenge against the draconian law. Today, Texas served notice that it has dropped MALDEF from the lawsuit.