The Honorable Merrick B. Garland
Attorney General of the United States
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530
RE: Immediate Action Requested - Investigation into Texas Attorney General Raids of Latino Communities
Dear Attorney General Garland,
As organizations dedicated to uplifting, defending, and protecting marginalized communities nationwide, we urgently call on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate what appears to be politically motivated actions by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and other officials.
Attorney General Paxton has been relentlessly targeting and harassing Latino-led organizations, like the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), along with individual citizens. This isn't just troubling—it's a blatant infringement on their civil rights, part of a disturbing pattern of voter suppression and intimidation. In Texas, where Latinos make up 40.2% of the population—the state's largest ethnic group—these actions are especially concerning. Texas is a majority-minority state, with Latinos, African Americans, and Asian Americans together making up 58% of the population. These raids have a chilling effect on civic participation in these communities, underscoring a broader and more alarming strategy of suppressing minority voices.
For context on this recent matter, on August 20, 2024, Lidia Martinez, an 87-year-old LULAC member with 35 years of dedicated service, went through an experience that no one should ever face. Her home was raided by officers executing a warrant authorized by Paxton. Despite her full cooperation, Lidia was subjected to hours of intense interrogation, and her personal belongings, including voter registration materials, were seized. Unfortunately, this wasn't an isolated incident—four other LULAC members have been similarly targeted, fostering a climate of fear that chills community engagement.
This is part of a broader, deeply troubling pattern. Just a few months earlier, in June 2024, Paxton launched an investigation into Catholic Charities and its Executive Director, Sister Norma Pimentel, accusing them of 'human trafficking' simply for offering food, clothing, and shelter to Latino migrants in need.
This pattern goes beyond isolated incidents, including the recent purge of nearly a million voters from Texas voter rolls in August 2024, likely disproportionately affecting Latino, African American, and Asian American citizens. These actions reveal a deliberate strategy to suppress and marginalize minority communities. Similar challenges are being faced in other states like Georgia, Florida, and Arizona, where voter suppression efforts are also targeting these groups.
Given these developments, we respectfully urge you, as Attorney General, to take decisive action:
- Advocate for Enhanced Federal Oversight: Implement stronger federal oversight mechanisms to scrutinize state-level investigations into voter fraud, ensuring they are conducted fairly and without bias, and to prevent any misuse or harassment.
- Investigate Civil Rights Violations: Conduct a comprehensive investigation into the civil rights violations and voter intimidation efforts targeting Latino leaders, LULAC members and others who may have been targeted for registering members of marginalized communities.
Thank you for your continued attention to this critical issue.
