Archive for October 20th, 2007
EXCLUSION OF MILITARY VETERANS FROM STATE EDUCATION PROGRAM
It is a sad day when the state of Texas would deny benefits to any veteran who has served to protect this country. Shame on Texas and the Universities and colleges who refuse to offer full benefits to any veteran of the armed services regardless of their citizenship.
ADDITIONAL VETERANS AND UNIVERSITIES ADDED TO LEGAL CHALLENGE OF EXCLUSION OF MILITARY VETERANS FROM STATE EDUCATION PROGRAM
SAN ANTONIO, TX – Today, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), expanded its lawsuit challenging the exclusion of certain military veterans from the Texas Hazlewood Act, which provides a waiver of tuition and fees at Texas public colleges and universities. MALDEF represents veterans who have been denied the waiver and attended the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Houston, North Harris College, as well veterans seeking to attend the University of Texas at San Antonio and West Texas A&M University. In the expanded lawsuit, MALDEF represents six veterans and the American GI Forum of Texas.
Although each plaintiff honorably completed his military service and is otherwise qualified, the State and its institutions have denied the veterans tuition waivers solely because they were not U.S. citizens when they first entered the service—even those veterans who have since become U.S. citizens. All the plaintiff veterans joined the military while they were legal permanent resident immigrants of the United States.
“It is shocking that veterans who served our country in times of war are excluded from this educational program across our State, from smaller community colleges to larger universities,” stated David Hinojosa, MALDEF Staff Attorney and lead counsel in this case. “Equally shocking is that the State and its institutions have not reversed course, even after the filing of this lawsuit.”
The lawsuit maintains that denying veterans who entered the military as legal permanent residents violates the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution and other federal laws.
Founded in 1968, MALDEF, the nation’s leading Latino legal organization, promotes and protects the rights of Latinos through litigation, advocacy, community education and outreach, leadership development, and higher education scholarships. For more information on MALDEF, please visit: http://www.maldef.org
Another Flat Earther Quits the Race For GOP Nomination
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