MALDEF Helps Defeat Rep. Tancredo's Anti-Immigrant Amendments

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) MALDEF, the nation's premier Latino civil rights organization, helped stop two anti-immigrant amendments to the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill (H.R.4567) considered on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today. These two amendments were sponsored by the chair of the anti-immigration caucus, Representative Tom Tancredo (R-CO).

- The first amendment, defeated by a 145 to 262 vote, would have compelled state and local police officers to act as federal immigration agents, or lose federal funding to keep our streets and communities safe.

- The second amendment, defeated by a procedural motion, would have denied federal funding to any state that permitted undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver's license or other comparable identification.

'MALDEF opposed Rep.Tancredo's amendments to the homeland security appropriations bill because they would have forced our state and local police officers to choose between maintaining public safety and accepting critical funding. Our communities need all the resources available to help keep our streets safe,' commented Vibiana Andrade, MALDEF Vice President of Public Policy.

MALDEF supports workable immigration reforms that do not undermine public safety. 'It is important for local law enforcement officers to maintain positive relationships with all members of the Latino community. Turning local police officers into de facto immigration agents would have a chilling effect on community policing and officer relationships with the Latino community,' explained Katherine Culliton, MALDEF Legislative Staff Attorney.

MALDEF is a national civil rights organization which protects and promotes the civil rights of Latinos through advocacy, community education and outreach, leadership development, higher education scholarships and, when necessary, through the legal system.