Texas Showdown: LULAC Fires Back at Paxton's 'Voter Fraud' Raids

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is on the warpath, demanding a federal investigation into Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's probes of alleged illegal voter registration efforts. This follows a series of law enforcement raids targeting Latino activists, which LULAC is calling an "invasion of privacy" and "voter suppression."

In a fiery news conference in San Antonio on Monday, LULAC's national president, Roman Palomares, declared, "It is evident through his (Paxton's) patterns of lawsuits, raids, searches and seizures that he is trying to keep Latinos from voting. LULAC will not stand idly by and allow our members to be targeted, harassed, bullied or intimidated."

Last Friday, Gabriel Rosales, Texas director for LULAC, announced that several members had been served search warrants, prompting the organization to seek federal assistance. They're submitting a request for an investigation to Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general for civil rights with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Paxton, however, is celebrating the execution of multiple search warrants and the start of "undercover operations" to identify and prevent illegal voter registration. He's even accused nonprofit organizations of setting up registration drives near DPS offices, questioning their motives.

Lidia Martinez, an 87-year-old retired teacher from San Antonio, was among those targeted. She recounted her ordeal, "What do you want out of me? I'm an old woman. I help the seniors. I help the veterans. What do you want from me?" Officers rummaged through her home for hours, seizing her laptop, appointment book, cellphone, and voter registration information.

Gov. Greg Abbott backed Paxton, highlighting legislation passed last year that makes illegal voting a second-degree felony. He boasted, "I have signed the strongest election laws in the nation to protect the right to vote and to crackdown on illegal voting."

This isn't the first time LULAC and state officials have clashed. In 2019, a dispute with the secretary of state's office led to a settlement agreement and a congressional probe, with Paxton's office refusing to cooperate.

Democratic Sens. Roland Gutierrez and José Menéndez announced plans to send a letter to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, asking for a Senate investigation into Paxton's probes. Gutierrez blasted Paxton, saying, "The net effect of what this does — it is only voter suppression and voter intimidation. He is pointing a gun and intimidating our abuelitas."

Stay tuned for more on this Texas voter showdown.

Sources:

• Legislation passed last year