Public Policy Immigrants’ Rights

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:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Please attribute the following statement on the recommendations released Thursday by the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) on the use of private, for-profit immigration jails to Andrea Senteno, a legislative staff attorney with MALDEF. Senteno provided comment during a recent public meeting of the HSAC.

LOS ANGELES, CA – MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) today released a fact sheet designed to help students, educators, and social service providers navigate the potential implications of a Trump presidency on immigration policy.

Two Leading Immigrant Rights Organizations Establish Fund and Seek Donations

LOS ANGELES, CA – In the aftermath of Tuesday’s election, reports have surfaced of problems at schools, including anti-immigrant bullying. MALDEF calls on local and state officials to move swiftly to address any incidents of uncivil discourse in our schools.

LOS ANGELES, CA – Please attribute the following statement to MALDEF President and General Counsel Thomas A. Saenz.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 4-4 non-decision, failed to act on President Obama’s executive actions on immigration. Today’s ruling creates no new law and does not decide whether DAPA and Expanded DACA are legal. Instead, it leaves in place a lower court block of the initiatives pending further litigation. As a result, the Jane Does, three undocumented Texas mothers who entered the case to defend the initiatives, will be unable to apply for temporary protection from removal. The Jane Does are represented by MALDEF, which argued in the appeal in the U.S. Supreme Court in April.

LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, MALDEF President and General Counsel, Thomas A. Saenz, released the following statement in reaction to the tragic loss of so many innocent lives this past weekend in Orlando, Florida:

Los Angeles, CA – Please attribute the following statement on today’s announced changes to immigration enforcement to MALDEF President and General Counsel Thomas A. Saenz.

SAN ANTONIO, TX – Yesterday, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR), an independent and bipartisan agency that advises the President and Congress on civil rights matters, released its report on the state of civil rights at immigration detention centers in the United States. MALDEF testimony is cited throughout the report, which outlines a series of federal and constitutional violations at immigration detention facilities operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. MALDEF and other groups filed a complaint last year with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demanding the immediate investigation of and swift response to widespread allegations of sexual abuse and harassment at the detention center in Karnes City.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Yesterday, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law SB 600, a bill authored by Senator Richard Pan, barring discrimination based on citizenship, language, or immigration status. MALDEF initiated and sponsored the legislation, and thanks Gov. Brown for signing it into law. The law clarifies the Unruh Civil Rights Act, and provides clear notice to business proprietors that they cannot discriminate in public accommodations.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Yesterday, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law AB 560, a bill authored by Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez barring the consideration of a child’s immigration status in civil actions. MALDEF initiated and sponsored the legislation, and thanks Gov. Brown for signing it into law. The law protects minor children who are victims of torts from having their immigration status exposed, explored, and considered in seeking judicial recourse for the harms that they have suffered.