CITIZENSHIP AND VOTING
LULAC promotes active participation of all eligible Hispanics in the democratic process by registering to vote and voting, and encourages all legislative, judicial and educational efforts to promote voter participation and advocacy. LULAC urges the extension of the Voting Rights Act due to expire in 2007.
LULAC encourages all eligible immigrants to become US citizens and demands that the Bureau of Immigration and Citizenship Services expedite the processing of citizenship applications pending in a backlog for up to two years or more.
LULAC aims to assure that voters’ rights are safeguarded on election-day by preventing potential voting rights violations, such as intimidation at the polls, unworkable voting equipment, and other civil rights violations.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
LULAC advocates reform of the criminal justice system to reduce the disproportionate number of Latinos who are incarcerated in the criminal and juvenile justice systems. LULAC supports reform of the court system to ensure fair sentencing guidelines that do not discriminate among race or socio-economic backgrounds. LULAC opposes the incarceration of youth in adult prisons and supports preventive education and social programs to reduce incarceration and recidivism. LULAC supports the repeal of legislation harmful to Latinos to redress disparate treatment of minorities, such as the elimination of the death penalty. LULAC also supports ensuring that statistical data of inmates in the state and federal prison systems is gathered for Hispanics/Latinos, of any race.
DISCRIMINATION AND RACIAL PROFILING
By exposing discrimination, LULAC encourages a public discourse and educates the public on issues relating to Latinos. We denounce any form of discrimination on the basis of national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, age or disability. LULAC strongly condemns racial profiling, and supports a strong statutory definition of racial profiling along with the institution of data collections systems by law enforcement. LULAC opposes any effort to amend the US Constitution in any manner that reduces protection of any individual’s rights on the basis of national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, age or disability.
WOMEN’S RIGHTS
LULAC strongly supports legislation that would guarantee pay equity for women, strong penalties for sexual harassment, and support for women who file complaints against their employers. LULAC supports the expansion of leadership development programs for women of all ages and encourages more Latinas to run for public office. LULAC strongly supports programs to protect women and their children from domestic violence and sexual abuse, and strong penalties for abusers that include but are not limited to community service, appropriate time in jail and mandatory anger management training. LULAC strongly supports equity in health care for women to require that most health and disability insurance contracts which cover prescription medication must also cover prescription contraceptives. LULAC demands that the United States and Mexico work together to resolve the issue of the murdered women of Juarez.