Immigrants’ Rights

Federal Court case against City of Los Angeles seeks damages for injuries suffered by peaceful participants and prevention of future civil rights violations

ST. LOUIS, MO – The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) strongly supports a state judge’s decision to permanently block two anti-immigration ordinances in Valley Park, Missouri. Last year, a coalition of private lawyers, law schools and civil rights organizations, including MALDEF, filed suit against the City on behalf of a group of residents, business owners, and a fair housing agency claiming that the ordinances violated federal law and fair housing protections.

Local government already rebuffed by state court

ACLU and MALDEF pleased that unconstitutional ordinance will not go into effect on January 12, 2007

Ordinance will go into effect January 12, 2007

Ordinance will go into effect January 12, 2007

Warns against premature implementation of the new ordinance or increased immigration checks

Ordinance has same constitutional flaw as others MALDEF has challenged

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taxpayer dollars on a lawsuit defending the unconstitutional ordinance, and pressed instead for the measure to be repealed before the November 18 implementation date.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.

VALLEY PARK, MO – Ayer, una Juez del Circuito del Condado de St. Louis, la Honorable Sandra Hemphill, concedió un mandato para detener la Ciudad de Valley Park, Missouri en imponer una nueva orden dirigida a inmigrantes del municipio local.