Our History and Mission
OUR MISSION
LatinoJustice PRLDEF champions an equitable society. Using the power of the law together with education and advocacy, LatinoJustice PRLDEF protects opportunities for all Latinos to succeed in work and school, fulfill their dreams, and sustain their families and communities. LatinoJustice PRLDEF’s work fully embraces the diversity of the Latino community – especially the most vulnerable – new immigrants and the poor. LatinoJustice PRLDEF’s work encompasses three guiding principles – protecting civil rights, cultivating Latino leaders and increasing civic participation – that conveys our work, and showcases our exceptional role within the Latino rights community.
OUR HISTORY
In 1972 three young attorneys decided to establish an organization that could provide Latinos with the legal resources to overcome the obstacles that frustrated their dreams and limited their lives. Jorge Batista, Victor Marrero and Cesar A. Perales founded the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund to give Latinos a voice within the legal system and a role in public life.
Since that time our notable board members have included a Supreme Court Justice, a U.S. Ambassador and a member of congress.
For almost 40 years now, the organization has made a real difference in the daily lives of Latinos across the United States. Parents, teachers, voters, immigrants, students all continue to reach out to us for assistance in protecting their civil rights. And we continue to respond.
Recently, we became LatinoJustice PRLDEF, a name that better reflects the broad scope of people and nationalities who we protect and who make up our organization.
And though our name is different, our mission to promote justice for all Latinos has remained unchanged since 1972.
Our attorneys have litigated precedent-setting impact cases that have profoundly improved the way Latinos are treated in our society. Some highlights follow.
Our landmark cases continue make a difference in the daily lives of Latinos across the country in these and other areas.
Voting Rights
- As a result of our court victory, bilingual ballots and interpreters – in English, Spanish and Chinese – were provided to voters in the New York City elections. In turn, this decision affected how the Voting Rights Act was amended.
- In another early victory, we got federal courts to block a city Democratic Party primary election on the grounds that New York City Council boundaries diminished the power of minority voters. On September 10, 1981, New Yorkers awoke to headlines announcing a court-ordered postponement of elections scheduled that day for Mayor and City Council. LatinoJustice PRLDEF had successfully challenged the redistricting plan passed by the City Council and signed into law by the Mayor, which had been drawn to prevent additional minority representation on the City Council.
- Over the past 30 years, LatinoJustice PRLDEF has continued to successfully attack gerrymandering throughout the Northeast including redistricting plans drawn in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Promoting Inclusion in Our Society
- In Milanes v. Chertoff, we challenged naturalization processing delays of up to four years, making it possible for many Latinos to become citizens in time to vote.
Balancing the Educational Scales
- Our very first lawsuit, Aspira v. New York City Board of Education, ensured public schools provided equal opportunities for English language learners.
- Subsequently, we fought the forced segregation of Latino children in Delaware, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Protecting Language Rights in the Workplace
- EEOC v. Beauty Enterprises, Inc. prevented an employer from enforcing an "English-Only" policy against Latino employees.
Ensuring Choice in Public and Private Housing
- We sued New York City for discriminating against Latinos and African-Americans who applied for public housing.
- Valdez v. Brookhaven stopped a town from carrying out mass evictions of Latino day laborers.
Protecting Migrant and Immigrant Rights:
- We challenged New Jersey and Puerto Rico for deliberately failing to protect the rights of migrant farm laborers.
- Aguilar v. ICE challenges Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s right to perform warrantless raids on Latino homes.
- Lozano v. Hazleton prevented a locality from passing its own anti-immigrant ordinance that would have restricted Latino immigrants' rights to secure employment and housing.
NOTABLE CURRENT and FORMER BOARD MEMBERS
These are just a few of the hundreds of people who have dedicated themselves to leading our organization.
Herman Badillo, Member of the United States House of Representatives
Haywood Burns, Dean of the City University of New York Law School
Willard Butcher, C.E.O. of Chase Manhattan Bank
Jose Cabranes, United States Court of Appeals Judge for the Second Circuit
Hugh Carey, Governor of the State of New York
Gabriel Guerra-Mondragón, United States Ambassador to Chile
Jacob K. Javits, United States Senator from the State of New York
Nicholas deB. Katzenbach, United States Attorney General
Victor Marrero, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York
Robert M. Morgenthau, Manhattan District Attorney
Geraldo Rivera, Journalist for ABC and Fox News
Benito Romano, Interim United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York
Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court
Michael I. Sovern, President Emeritus, Former Provost and Law School Dean, Columbia University.
William J. vanden Heuvel, United States Ambassador to the United Nations