What is League of United Latin American Citizens v. Wilson?
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) vs. Wilson et. al. was the California 9th Circuit District Case that overturned the infamous Proposition 187. Dubbed the “Save our State initiative”, Proposition 187 was intended to cease alien usage of public healthcare, education, welfare, and other social services by requiring a state classification system of immigrant status(3). The proposition would require state entities to report suspected, not confirmed, aliens to the California attorney general and federal immigration authorities. The “Save our State” initiative would also expand felony status to include the manufacturing and distribution of falsified documents relating to immigration. After Proposition 187 passed with an overwhelming 59% to 41%(1). LULAC filed a suit against then governor Pete Wilson who sponsored Proposition 187 and made illegal immigration at the forefront of his campaign. Proposition 187 would re-enter national discourse with every development including the addition of named plaintiffs or defendants, injunctions, or appeals. Although originating in 1994, a ruling was not reached until 1998 and a mediated agreement between all parties until 1999 (2).
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Expa. 1998. “Federal Judge Issues Final Ruling on Prop. 187 Measure Unconstitutional - ACLU of Socal.” ACLU of Socal. March 18, 1998. https://www.aclusocal.org/news/federal-judge-issues-final-ruling-prop-187-measure-unconstitutional/.
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MALDEF in History. 2019. “Proposition 187: The Granddaddy of Anti-Immigrant Measures | MALDEF.” Maldef. October 24, 2019. https://www.maldef.org/2019/10/proposition-187-the-grand-daddy-of-anti-immigrant-measures/.
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Thurber, Dani. n.d. “Research Guides: A Latinx Resource Guide: Civil Rights Cases and Events in the United States: 1994: California’s Proposition 187.” Guides.loc.gov. https://guides.loc.gov/latinx-civil-rights/california-proposition-187#s-lib-ctab-25769023-