In a dramatic escalation of political tensions in Texas, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) has called for a federal investigation into Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The advocacy group alleges that Paxton's recent raids on the homes of Democratic activists and leaders are an attempt to intimidate and suppress Latino voters.
On Monday, LULAC's President Roman Palomares and CEO Juan Proaño sent a formal request to the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, urging immediate action. Their letter condemns Paxton's conduct as a direct violation of the Voting Rights Act and other federal civil rights laws. "We believe that his conduct constitutes a direct attempt to suppress the Latino vote through intimidation and harassment," the letter stated.
The Texas Attorney General's office, which has launched an extensive investigation into voter fraud, executed multiple search warrants last week in Frio, Atascosa, and Bexar counties. According to Paxton, these actions are part of a broader effort to tackle allegations of election fraud and vote harvesting. The raids targeted several locations including those of Cecilia Castellano, a Democratic candidate for state House, and at least six LULAC members.
"The integrity of our elections is paramount," Paxton asserted in a statement. "We are committed to protecting the security of the ballot box and ensuring accountability for anyone committing election crimes." Despite his office's assertions, no charges have been filed as a result of these raids.
The raids, which saw officers armed with search warrants arriving at the homes of several individuals, have been met with significant backlash. Lidia Martinez, an 87-year-old LULAC activist, described her experience as "embarrassing and intimidating," recounting how armed officers conducted a search of her home at dawn, seizing her personal belongings including her phone and laptop.
Martinez, who has been actively involved in voter registration, expressed frustration over the treatment she received. "It was just harassment. They searched everything in my house and questioned me for hours," she said. "I don't do anything illegal, but I'm being harassed."
The searches also targeted Manuel Medina, a Democratic political operative, and included a focus on potential vote harvesting schemes linked to Castellano's campaign. The affidavit for Medina's search warrant alleged he was involved in collecting mail-in ballots, which is strictly regulated under Texas law.
LULAC officials have argued that these actions are part of a broader pattern of voter suppression aimed at Latino and minority communities in Texas. "These actions are reminiscent of past attempts to intimidate and disenfranchise voters through fear and coercion," LULAC's letter to the Justice Department stated.
Texas has stringent regulations concerning mail-in voting, with legal provisions requiring that any assistance in delivering ballots must be disclosed and restricted to family members. The Attorney General's office has a history of pursuing high-profile voter fraud cases, though its efforts have frequently faced scrutiny. In the past fiscal year, the office's election integrity unit handled only four cases despite having a budget of $2.3 million.
Paxton's previous controversies include his failed attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and his legal actions against a nonprofit aiding migrants. He has also faced criticism for pursuing medical records of transgender youth and for publicizing the names of individuals involved in seeking abortions.
The Department of Justice has acknowledged receipt of LULAC's letter but has not yet commented on the investigation. The federal agency's response will be closely watched as it could have significant implications for the ongoing political and legal battles in Texas.
