In July of 2008, 25-year old Luis Ramirez lost his life after he was knocked unconscious and kicked in the head by a group of Shenandoah, Pennsylvania teenagers who yelled racial epithets before and during the brutal beating. In November, 37-year old Marcelo Lucero was ferociously beaten and fatally stabbed in Long Island, New York by a group of teenagers who hunted him down simply for being Latino. Only a month later, we mourned the murder in Brooklyn, New York of Jose Osvaldo Sucuzhañay, whose life was violently taken by a group of people, and whose crime, according to witnesses, was motivated by hate-filled bigotry.
Immigrants’ Rights
Economic Recovery
As the nation passes through a difficult economic period, MALDEF has worked closely with our partners in the civil rights community to address many of the challenges facing Latino workers and families. For Latinos, the economic downturn has been especially difficult as families struggle to keep their homes and workers are being laid off with limited opportunities for future employment. The challenges ahead will not be easy and MALDEF will work with partners in Congress and the Obama Administration to ensure that full economic recovery reaches the Latino community.
Declaracion De La Abogada Gladys Limon De MALDEF, Referente A La Litigacion De Los Eventos Del Primero De Mayo
LOS ÁNGELES, CA- El día 1 de Mayo del 2007, miles de personas participaron en una marcha y demostración pacifica para hacer un llamado para una reforma migratoria comprensiva. Estos individuos y familias, mayormente Latinos e inmigrantes, manifestaron su valor, dignidad, y el deseo de continuar participando dentro de nuestra sociedad, ejerciendo algunos de los derechos y libertades mas apreciados, otorgados por nuestra constitución – que es el derecho de asamblea y expresarse libremente. De hecho, son estas libertades las que atrajeron a mucho de los participantes de esta marcha a los Estados Unidos. Algunos de ellos, huyeron de la opresión y terror, buscando libertad, otros escaparon la pobreza inmensa buscando la promesa Americana de poder vivir una vida digna a cambio del trabajo digno.
Immigrant Integration
MALDEF strongly supports proactive efforts by Congress and state legislatures to welcome new immigrants and weave them into the fabric of their new communities. As immigrants continue to be a growing portion of our nation’s schools and workforce, it is critical that investments are made to train and educate English language learners (ELL) and assist them transition into their new communities. To this end, MALDEF has led a coalition of over 200 local and national organizations in support of legislation that invests in English language acquisition opportunities for adults and children; creates incentives for businesses to educate their workers and be a part of the integration of immigrants; and provides resources to help communities bring together key stakeholders.
Language Access
MALDEF recognizes that learning English is critical to participating in, contributing to, and succeeding in American society. However, English-only and Official English laws do nothing constructive to advance the important goal of English proficiency. Instead, such laws are discriminatory and carry with them the potential to jeopardize the health, safety, and well-being not only of English Language Learners (ELLs), but of our communities as a whole. Laws that interfere with or undermine the government’s ability to communicate quickly and effectively are simply bad public policy.
Truth in Immigration
SAVE Act — H.R. 4088
MALDEF opposes the Shuler-Tancredo Secure America through Verification and Enforcement Act (“SAVE Act”), H.R. 4088. The SAVE Act puts Americans in danger of losing their jobs by forcing all U.S. employers to participate in a deeply flawed employment verification system known as EEVS or E-Verify. Studies of E-Verify suggest that nearly 13 million U.S.-born workers and 10% of naturalized citizens are in danger of being fired because of database errors. Most of these errors would affect U.S. citizens.