Ken Paxton raids homes of Latino Democrats and LULAC members in Texas.
The nation’s oldest Latino civil rights organization, LULAC, is currently at the center of a heated controversy in Texas. State Attorney General Ken Paxton has led voter fraud raids targeting several entities in the state, with LULAC being one of the key organizations under scrutiny, as reported by CBS News.
In a letter exclusively obtained by CBS News, LULAC has called for an investigation by the Justice Department into Paxton’s office for suspected violations of the Voting Rights Act. The organization has accused Paxton’s team of conducting illegal searches based on voter fraud allegations.
LULAC’s CEO, Juan Proaño, and the group’s national president, Roman Palomares, expressed concerns in the letter, stating, “These actions reflect a troubling history of voter suppression and intimidation that has disproportionately affected Black and Latino communities, particularly in states like Texas, where changing demographics have reshaped the political landscape.”
Recently, Paxton’s office made headlines by announcing undercover operations and investigations into reports of unlawful voter registration of noncitizens by certain organizations in Texas. LULAC officials informed CBS News that some of the group’s members in Texas were specifically targeted in these actions, with authorities seizing laptops and cell phones as part of the search warrants executed.
Juan Proaño criticized Attorney General Paxton, accusing him of employing his position to intimidate and harass Latino non-profit organizations like LULAC and Latino Leaders. Proaño labeled Paxton’s efforts as blatant voter intimidation, emphasizing the pattern of lawsuits, raids, searches, and seizures aimed at deterring Latino voter participation.
An individual directly impacted by these raids is Lidia Martinez, an 87-year-old LULAC member from San Antonio, who has dedicated over three decades to expanding voter registration among seniors and veterans in South Texas. Martinez recounted a harrowing encounter with law enforcement officers in tactical gear executing a search warrant at her residence, which left her questioned for hours and her personal items confiscated.
During a press conference condemning the raid, Martinez defiantly declared, “This is a free country, this is not Russia,” underscoring the shock and disbelief at the intrusion she experienced. Another LULAC member, Manuel Medina, chair of Tejano Democrats, also faced a similar ordeal when police raided his home in riot gear, damaging his door in the process, as reported by LULAC officials.
Paxton’s office defended its actions, citing an ongoing operation by its Election Integrity Unit following a referral from the 81st Judicial District Attorney regarding alleged election fraud during the 2022 elections. The two-year investigation leading to the search warrants was deemed warranted by Paxton’s office, as they aim to tackle voter fraud in the state.
The creation of the Election Integrity Unit came in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, with officials looking into allegations of fraud despite assertions from the Trump administration that the election was secure. Paxton reiterated his commitment to investigating any credible reports of criminal activity that could jeopardize election integrity, linking the issue to the influx of illegal immigrants facilitated by the current administration.
This unfolding saga in Texas underscores the deep-seated tensions surrounding voting rights, political influence, and the protection of electoral processes. As LULAC and other organizations navigate these challenges, the broader implications for democracy and civil liberties remain at the forefront of public discourse.
