News Releases
MALDEF STATEMENT ON INTRODUCTION OF VOTING RIGHTS ACT IN U.S. SENATE
LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Senate today introduced the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2024 (JLVRAA). The bill provides an important path forward in helping protect our democracy by protecting the rights of every citizen, including Latinos and other minorities, who increasingly face new hurdles when seeking to exercise their right to vote.
MALDEF SUES LOAN REFINANCE COMPANY FOR DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES
MALDEF MIDWEST REGIONAL COUNSEL TO RUN FOR COOK COUNTY CIRCUIT JUDGE
CHICAGO – Griselda Vega Samuel, Midwest Regional Counsel for MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), is taking an unpaid leave from her position at the organization effective January 12, 2024. She is doing so in order to run for Cook County...
MALDEF SUES CREDIT UNION FOR DISCRIMINATORY LENDING
MALDEF STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF HERMAN SILLAS
LOS ANGELES - MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) mourns the passing of Herman Sillas, a noted civil rights attorney and founding board member of MALDEF, who died at the age of 89 in November 2023. Sillas was not only involved in the initial...
MALDEF SUES OREGON CREDIT UNION FOR DISCRIMINATORY LENDING PRACTICES
Oakland, CA - A Latino civil rights organization filed a federal class-action lawsuit Friday against a credit union for unlawfully denying a home equity loan to a DACA recipient based on his immigration status. MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational...
MALDEF STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF IGNACIO LOZANO JR.
LOS ANGELES – MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) mourns the passing of Ignacio E. Lozano Jr., former publisher of La Opinion, the Spanish-language daily newspaper based in Los Angeles, who died Wednesday. Known to his friends as “Nacho,” he was a steadfast supporter of MALDEF, and served on the organization’s board of directors from 1979 to 1988.
MALDEF AND GTE FINANCIAL RESOLVE DISCRIMINATION CASE
TAMPA, FLA.– A Tampa resident who challenged the denial of financial services by a Florida credit union has reached a confidential resolution with the institution. The 2022 lawsuit challenging the policies of GTE Federal Credit Union was filed by MALDEF (Mexican...
MALDEF SUES SPOKANE CREDIT UNION FOR DISCRIMINATORY LENDING PRACTICES
SPOKANE, Wash. – A Latino civil rights organization is suing a Spokane, Washington-based credit union for unlawfully denying DACA recipients financial services based on their immigration status. MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) and Roger M....
MALDEF ANNOUNCES 2022-2023 LAW SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS AND RELEASES 2023-2024 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
LOS ANGELES – MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2022-2023 Law School Scholarship Program. Since its founding in 1968, MALDEF has awarded scholarships to law students committed to furthering our mission of promoting and protecting the civil rights of the Latino community in the United States.
MALDEF STATEMENT ON APPELLATE COURT RULING IN VRA CHALLENGE
LOS ANGELES – In a 2-1 decision, a federal court of appeals panel today ruled that private parties do not have the ability to sue under Section 2 of the federal Voting Rights Act (VRA). The decision came in a case out of Arkansas and will apply in the eight states in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.