Public Policy Immigrants’ Rights

MALDEF, CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS URGE PRESIDENT TO ENSURE AFFIRMATIVE RELIEF FOR UNDOCUMENTED LGBTQ IMMIGRANTS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – MALDEF and twelve other LGBTQ, Latino, and Asian American advocacy and civil rights organizations yesterday sent a letter to President Obama, urging him to ensure that any affirmative relief for undocumented immigrants does not unfairly exclude members of the LGBTQ community. The letter comes in response to ongoing discussion surrounding the President’s announcement that his Administration is exploring avenues to provide affirmative relief to many of the undocumented in light of congressional inaction.

MALDEF CO-RELEASES REPORT HIGHLIGHTING UNPRECEDENTED DEPORTATION NUMBERS

LOS ANGELES, CA – MALDEF, together with the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), today released a report that assesses the unprecedented deportation rate of the last six-years, the devastating impact these deportations have had on vulnerable Latino families, and seeks to outline actions toward a more fair and just immigration policy in the United States.

MALDEF JOINS IN CALLING ON PRESIDENT TO SUSPEND DEPORTATIONS AS CONGRESS DEBATES IMMIGRATION REFORM

MALDEF President and General Counsel, Thomas A. Saenz, joined representatives from other immigrant rights groups in a telebriefing for the press earlier this week to urge President Obama to immediately suspend deportations of those potentially eligible for legalization while Congress deliberates on immigration reform. More than 410,000 were deported last year, the most ever. These deportations break apart thousands of families, and in many cases, the family members allowed to stay suffer severe financial strain as a result of losing an economic contributor to the household. Deportations also disrupt communities and workplaces when someone with strong connections to the community is seized and removed.