LatinoJustice Works for Equal Education Opportunities

PRLDEF is making a concerted effort to support the DREAM ACT:
LatinoJustice PRLDEF believes that providing all students-- irrespective of their immigration status-- the opportunity to go to college is a positive step towards promoting education equality in the United States. This week, members of LatinoJustice PRLDEF’s Civic Engagement Network are participating in the National DREAM ACT action week. They are calling their representatives and urging them to support the bill, and educating their friends and colleagues about the benefits of the bill.

The DREAM Act would provide immigration relief to those who entered the U.S. more than five years ago if and when they graduate from high school, and allow them to become permanent residents and eventually citizens if they go to college or serve in the military.

Visit our network's facebook page to get involved.

The California Supreme Court is expected to announce when it will hear arguments in Martinez v. Regents of the University of California, a case for which LatinoJustice PRLDEF has submitted an amicus brief with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. The brief urges the California Supreme Court to dismiss a legal challenge to California AB540, which allows qualified students, including undocumented students, to pay in-state tuition rates at California's public colleges and universities.

Read more about the brief

Upcoming Scholarship Deadline: Chemistry Students

African-American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian students who are high school seniors, or college freshmen, sophomores or juniors are among those who can now apply for a scholarship from the American Chemical Society Scholars Program. Applications will be accepted through March 1, 2010, for the 2010-2011 school year.

Students must plan to major in or already be majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering or a chemically-related science, and they must plan to pursue a career in the chemical sciences. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on college level and economic need.

For more details, see The American Chemical Society (ACS) Scholars Program accepting applications for minority students studying chemistry.

LatinoJustice PRLDEF Launches New Action Website

LatinoJustice PRLDEF unveiled a new website specifically designed to connect users to actions they can take to ensure the civil rights of Latinos. The site will seek to engage Latinos with the issues important to their community; to provide information about legal cases; and to offer tools where people can connect with government officials. The website will also become a central meeting place for young activists through it use of social networking tools. “Our goal with this website is to educate Americans about the civil rights issues facing Latinos,” said Cesar Perales, LatinoJustice PRLDEF President and General Counsel. “We have to bring attention to unjust policies and mobilize the community to support positive change. Having an effective website is critical to our success.” LatinoJustice PRLDEF over the last few years has focused on developing a communications strategy that works hand in hand with our litigation and complements our legal strategy in achieving our goals. These communications efforts have educated Americans about the civil rights issues facing Latinos, used the media to pressure public officials to revisit unjust policies, and mobilized the Latino community to support positive change. The first issue of the new website highlights a petition filed by LatinoJustice PRLDEF with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights charging that the United States has not fulfilled its mission to project Latinos. Supporters can send United States officials their own petition asking that the case be addressed by the government. The site also contains many tools and worksheets users can use to get involved in the U.S. Census. Users can also get information of all LatinoJustice PRLDEF pending cases. Students can access much information about the organization’s legal education programs, including registering for LSAT classes and LawBound Academy workshops.