Public Policy Immigrants’ Rights

(Los Angeles, CA) Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), released the following statement today in response to the detention of Rosa Maria Hernandez, a 10-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who underwent emergency gallbladder surgery in Texas. Rosa, a Mexican national, was detained by Border Patrol agents at the hospital where she was recovering and transferred to a San Antonio immigration detention facility for minors. She remains in custody and separated from her family.

(Los Angeles, CA) The Trump administration this week released a list of punitive anti-immigrant guidelines that it says must be enacted as part of any legislation that addresses the plight of undocumented young immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.

(Los Angeles, CA) Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), released the following statement today in response to a new report by the Office of Inspector General County of Los Angeles. The report found Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department staff shared detailed information about inmates held in its jails directly with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

California Senate Bill 54, which enacts important limits on cooperation by state and local officials with federal immigration authorities, was signed into law today by Gov. Jerry Brown. Please attribute the following statement to Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund).

LOS ANGELES, CA – Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), released the following statement today in response to the U.S. House of Representatives vote passing the Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act bill (H.R. 3697):

Los Angeles, CA – Civil rights groups and the California Secretary of State vowed Friday to work together to combat the Trump Administration’s efforts to suppress minority voting while also urging the White House to keep in place Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a 2012 initiative that protects some young immigrants from deportation.

Los Angeles, CA – Please attribute the following statement on Donald J. Trump’s pardon of Joe Arpaio, the disgraced former sheriff of Maricopa County, AZ, to Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund):

Los Angeles, CA – Please attribute the following statement on Donald J. Trump’s visit to Arizona, and reports that he is considering a presidential pardon of disgraced former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund): “If Donald Trump were to pardon the infamous Joe Arpaio today, it would be the most naked pander to a shrinking and dubious political ‘base’ since… well, last Tuesday. Any presidential pardon is completely premature for the following reasons:

Los Angeles, CA – Please attribute the following statement on legislation introduced Wednesday by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) that would severely curb legal immigration levels to Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund):

Los Angeles, CA – Please attribute the following statement on the conviction of Joe Arpaio, the former sheriff of Maricopa County, Ariz., for criminal contempt of court to Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund):

Los Angeles, CA – Please attribute the following statement on the U.S Department of Homeland Security’s memo rescinding Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) to MALDEF President and General Counsel Thomas A. Saenz:

Los Angeles, CA – MALDEF sent a letter Tuesday to the Santa Ana City Council urging officials to reject a proposal to negotiate a new contract with federal immigration authorities.

Los Angeles, CA – Please attribute the following statement on the Trump administration’s plan to revive and expand the use of the controversial program known as 287 (g) that deputizes local law enforcement officers to act as immigration agents to MALDEF President and General Counsel Thomas A. Saenz:

Los Angeles, CA – Please attribute the following statement on recent nationwide arrests by federal immigration officials to MALDEF President and General Counsel Thomas A. Saenz: