MALDEF AND BANK OF AMERICA REACH AGREEMENT TO DISMISS EMPLOYMENT LAWSUIT

LOS ANGELES – On May 3, 2018, MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) filed a lawsuit, on behalf of an individual job applicant work-authorized through DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), which alleged that the plaintiff was denied the opportunity to compete for an employment position at Bank of America because he is a DACA holder. The action was filed as a potential class action on behalf of other work-authorized DACA recipients who may have been denied employment at Bank of America.

MALDEF STATEMENT ON PASSING OF SOUTHWEST VOTER REGISTRATION EDUCATION PROJECT PRESIDENT ANTONIO GONZALEZ

LOS ANGELES  – Antonio Gonzalez, president of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP) and the William C. Velasquez Institute (WCVI), died on November 11 after battling cancer. As the head of both organizations for 24 years, he worked tirelessly to mobilize Latino voters, promote civic participation and improve the lives of immigrants living in the United States. Please attribute the following statement on Antonio’s passing to Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund):

MALDEF STATEMENT ON PASSING OF ESTEEMED LATINO CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATE AND DEMOGRAPHY EXPERT LEO ESTRADA

LOS ANGELES – Leo Estrada, associate professor emeritus of urban planning at UCLA and a fierce advocate for voting rights, civil rights, and political representation for Latinos, died on Nov. 3 after a lengthy illness. Please attribute the following statement on Professor Estrada’s passing to Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund):

MALDEF STATEMENT ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REQUEST FOR U.S. SUPREME COURT TO CONSIDER DACA INITIATIVE

LOS ANGELES – The Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday to bypass the federal appeals process and rule on its efforts to the end the DACA initiative. Please attribute the following statement on the importance of voting today to push back against the Trump administration’s nativist and anti-immigrant policies to Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund):

MALDEF Statement on Citizenship Guarantees Under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

LOS ANGELES – Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), released the following statement today in response to Donald J. Trump’s incorrect assertion that the Constitutional guarantee of citizenship to all persons born in the United States can be eliminated by executive order:

MALDEF Statement on Cloture Vote Advancing Kavanaugh Nomination

LOS ANGELES – Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), released the following statement in response to the procedural cloture vote that advances the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to a final vote before the full United States Senate:

MALDEF Commemorates 50th Anniversary by Honoring the Contributions of Four Individuals in Advancing the Latino Community

San Antonio, TX – MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization, on Friday commemorated its 50th anniversary during its 2018 San Antonio Gala, which honored the remarkable work and achievements of four influential leaders in advancing the Latino community.

MALDEF Statement on Trump Administration’s Anti-Immigrant “Public Charge” Policy

LOS ANGELES – Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), issued the following statement today in response to the Trump administration’s proposed new rule that seeks to impose unprecedented and alarming limits on legal immigration and punish immigrants who legally access public services: