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| MALDEF Names John Trasviña President And General Counsel:
Civil rights litigator will be MALDEF's 6th President and General Counsel.
Read Press Release |
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| Voter Protection Initiative:
MALDEF is engaged in public outreach on protecting the right to vote by working in conjunction with a number of other non-partisan organizations to respond to developments if they arise on Tuesday, Election Day. We are prepared to work with election attorneys to seek judicial relief for poll openings, late hours or anything else and working with media to explain rights and alert the community. MALDEF and coalition partners sent the letter below in English and Spanish to potential voters informing them of their rights and the resources available should any problems arise.
 Letter to Latino Voters
Carta al Votante Latino
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| Immigration Reform:
Obtaining comprehensive immigration reform is one of the most important legal issues facing the Latino community and at the top of MALDEF’s legal agenda. During the summer, as the U.S. House failed to move forward to complete legislative action, frustrations by anti-immigrant activists led to a small number of cities and town attempting to enact restrictions and prohibitions against illegal immigrants at the local level. MALDEF strongly opposes and will continue to fight local ordinances because they threaten to discriminate against all Latinos, citizen and newcomer alike. This guide describes the ordinances and their legal flaws, and provides arguments than can be utilized against them. See Publications |
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| Secure Fence Act:
National Latino organizations call on president Bush to veto secure fence act. Press Release
Read Letter
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| MALDEF Defends Voting Rights Act:
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed a motion in a District of Columbia federal court requesting to defend the Voting Rights Act against a legal challenge that seeks to strike it down. Press Release
Read MALDEF’s intervention papers
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| Organizations Call To Investigate Orange County:
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) and 21 other Latino and Asian American civil rights organizations requested that U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales conduct an immediate federal investigation into voter intimidation and suppression tactics in Orange County, CA. Press Release
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| Voluntary Integration Programs:
On October 10, MALDEF filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of 16 national and local Latino organizations. At issue in the two cases, Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1 and Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education, is the continued authority of local school districts to take voluntary action to reduce racial segregation and isolation in their schools. Press Release
Read Brief
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| Fried Frank/MALDEF Fellowship:
Apply for the Fried Frank/MALDEF Fellowship. This four year program, which includes two years at Fried Frank and two years at MALDEF, is an excellent opportunity for third years or recent graduates currently in a judicial clerkship to gain valuable litigation experience at a prestigious New York law firm and litigate on behalf of the Latino community as a civil rights lawyer at MALDEF. For more information click here.
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| MALDEF Honors Judge DeAnda:
 The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) community mourns the passing of Hon. James DeAnda, a co-founder of the organization in 1968, and one of the legal giants of his generation.
MALDEF and the DeAnda Family have established the Judge James DeAnda Fund at MALDEF to support our litigation.
Contributions may be sent to:
MALDEF
634 South Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014
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| MALDEF Leaders Awarded Top Honors From National Hispanic Bar:
 MALDEF President and General Counsel John Trasviña named Lawyer of the Year; Board Member Kevin Johnson named Law Professor of the Year.
Press Release
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| Federal English-Only Laws:
MALDEF Testified Before House Committee Against Federal English-Only Laws. Testimony At Congressional Hearing Underscores Harm Of Official English.
Read Testimony
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| Victory For Latino Empowerment And Democracy:
 MALDEF hails Senate passage of Voting Rights Act, vote marks the greatest number by which the Senate has ever approved the VRA.
Press Release
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| Access To Court Interpreters:
Governor Schwarzenegger's veto obstructs justice in California’s courts for thousands of Latino families. Press Release
Letter To Governor
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| The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA):
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) has been indispensable to guaranteeing minority voters access to the ballot in Texas. Texas has experienced a long history of voting discrimination against its Latino and African-American citizens dating back to 1845. The enactment of the VRA in 1965 began a process of integrating Latinos, African Americans, and more recently, Asian Americans, into the political structures of Texas. Yet, a review of the minority voting experience in Texas since the 1982 VRA reauthorizations indicates that this process remains incomplete.
Read Full Report.
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| Immigration Reform:
MALDEF Hails Senate Action To Move Immigration Reform Forward. Press Release
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| Transcript Excerpt:
Nina Perales appears on 'The Situation with Tucker Carlson' to discuss recent voting rights case in Arizona. Read More.
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| Voting Rights Act:
House Judiciary Committee Protects Rights Of Citizens With Limited English Proficiency. Press Release
MALDEF Applauds Introduction Of Bipartisan Bills To Extend The Voting Rights Act. Press Release
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| Prop 200:
MALDEF Files Lawsuit Challenging Prop 200 Voter Restrictions. Press Release
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| Immigration Law And Policy Conference:
MALDEF President And General Counsel John Trasviña, U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Neb) To Participate In Immigration Law And Policy Conference. View Details.
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| MALDEF Files Segregation Suit:
Lawsuit alleges ESL used as a proxy to discriminate against minority students in Dallas public school. Press Release
Read Complaint.
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| Employment Discrimination:
MALDEF Files Employment Discrimination Suit on Behalf of Latino Workers of University in Atlanta. Press Release
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| Letter to Senator Bill Frist:
MALDEF & Other Leading Latino Civil Rights Groups Express Concern With Senator Frist's Proposal. Press Release
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| Senate Judiciary Committee Bill:
MALDEF Urges Continued Momentum on Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Press Release
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| MALDEF ACTION ALERT:
Comprehensive Immigration Reform Deserves Careful Consideration, Not a Rush to Passage. Read More
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| H.R. 4437:
The Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005.
Read Summary Report.
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| MALDEF Files Suit To Halt Dismantling Of Desegregation Programs:
Local parents, teachers and civil rights groups filed court motions today seeking to stop an effort to halt integration programs within Los Angeles Unified School District. Press Release
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| Edgewood School Districts:
MALDEF asks Texas Supreme Court to remand facilities case back to trial court. Press Release
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| MALDEF Opposes Sensenbrenner Bill:
House Immigration Bill ignores America’s needs; MALDEF supports Comprehensive Reform approach. Press Release
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| $30 Million Approved:
Senate approves the Hispanic Education Amendment to the FY06 Labor/Health and Human Services/Education appropriations bill. Press Release
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| VOTING RIGHTS: Drawing Political District Lines
 Prop 77 Testimony, Sept. 26th
“No” on Calif.’s Prop. 77: Leading civil rights groups denounce political initiative, calling for Californians to instead favor true political redistricting reform. Press Release
California: MALDEF opposes political redistricting plan endorsed by Gov. Schwarzenegger, as it would dilute and weaken long-held election protections, and it lacks essential reform components. Press Release
Texas: Federal three-judge panel allows congressional redistricting plan to remain in effect – even though it discriminates against Latino voters. Press Release
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MALDEF To United States Supreme Court:
