Texas AG Raids Homes of Latino Democrats, Including LULAC Members

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the oldest Latino civil rights organization in the United States, is amongst several organizations in Texas that have come under scrutiny during recent voter fraud raids conducted by state Attorney General Ken Paxton. CBS News has obtained information revealing these developments, including LULAC’s concerns regarding the targeting of their organization.

In a letter addressed to the Justice Department, which was first reported by CBS News, LULAC has requested an investigation into Paxton’s office for potential violations of the Voting Rights Act. The organization accuses the Attorney General’s office of executing unlawful searches based on voter fraud allegations.

LULAC’s CEO, Juan Proaño, along with the national president Roman Palomares, expressed in their letter that the actions taken by Paxton’s office reflect a disconcerting history of voter suppression and intimidation that has historically affected Black and Latino communities. They pointed out that states like Texas, experiencing demographic shifts, often witness such troubling patterns.

The Justice Department has confirmed receipt of LULAC’s letter but has chosen not to comment further on the matter. Following the letter, Paxton’s office revealed through a press release that they had initiated undercover investigations into allegations that certain organizations in Texas were unlawfully registering non-citizens to vote, a violation of both state and federal law.

Officials from LULAC informed CBS News that some Texas members of the organization experienced direct targeting, with law enforcement agents confiscating their laptops and cell phones while executing search warrants. These raids predominantly focused on Latino activists statewide.

Juan Proaño emphasized the serious implications of these actions, characterizing them as a form of voter intimidation. He stated, “Attorney General Paxton is using his position of authority to harass and intimidate Latino non-profit organizations like LULAC, Latino Leaders, and LULAC members.” Proaño argues that there’s a clear pattern in Paxton’s actions—lawsuits, raids, searches, and seizures aimed at discouraging Latinos from participating in elections.

Among those targeted during these raids was 87-year-old Lidia Martinez, a long-time LULAC member from San Antonio. For over 35 years, Martinez has been dedicated to enhancing voter registration efforts among seniors and veterans in South Texas. She recounted a daunting experience from last Tuesday when nine officers, clad in tactical gear and armed, arrived at her home with a search warrant.

Martinez noted that she was interrogated for more than three hours regarding her work with voter registration. Following the questioning, law enforcement officials seized her cell phone, computer, personal calendar, blank voter registration forms, and her certificate that allows her to conduct voter registration.

Expressing her disbelief at the situation, Martinez commented, “This is a free country; this is not Russia,” during a press conference where she condemned the raid.

Another LULAC member, Manuel Medina, who chairs the Tejano Democrats, was also included in the list of individuals targeted. Medina faced a similar fate when police, dressed in riot gear and armed, raided his home, breaking down his door, as reported by LULAC officials.

In its news release, Paxton’s office committed to continuing undercover operations led by its Election Integrity Unit, which was established after Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 presidential election. The unit aims to investigate allegations of voter fraud throughout Texas, despite numerous assertions from officials within the Trump administration in 2020 stating that the election was secure.

Paxton further elaborated that his office is actively pursuing credible reports of potential criminal activities that might threaten electoral integrity. He asserted that the current Biden-Harris administration has contributed to a situation where illegal immigrants could potentially disrupt elections at various levels.

This unfolding situation raises significant questions regarding voter rights and the implications of such intense scrutiny directed toward organizations like LULAC, which work diligently to promote civic engagement among the Latino community in Texas.