News Releases

MALDEF STATEMENT ON NINTH CIRCUIT DECISION UPHOLDING MOST OF CALIFORNIA SANCTUARY LAWS 

Apr 18, 2019 | ,

SAN FRANCISCO – A panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit today upheld the entirety of California Senate Bill 54 (SB 54), which enacted important limits on cooperation by state and local officials with federal immigration authorities, and significant portions of two other state “sanctuary” laws challenged by the Trump administration.  SB 54, signed into law in 2017, increases immigrant community cooperation with local law enforcement agencies by restricting their involvement in immigration enforcement.

MALDEF Responds to Rebuke of Trump’s Emergency Border Declaration

Mar 14, 2019 | , ,

LOS ANGELES – Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) issued the statement below in response to a bipartisan Senate vote today rejecting Donald J. Trump’s unlawful emergency declaration at the Southwestern border. A similar resolution passed the House of Representatives last month.

MALDEF Statement in Support of the Dream and Promise Act

Mar 13, 2019 | , , ,

Washington, D.C. – Lawmakers have introduced HR 6 – the Dream and Promise Act of 2019 – a bill that would provide a humane and sensible path to legalization for immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and currently have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, (DACA), as well as those granted Deferred Enforcement Departure (DED) and Temporary Protected Status, (TPS) because of civil war or natural disasters in their home countries.