El Paso, TX – Rochelle M. Garza, Chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights recently participated in a critical listening session in El Paso, Texas, alongside Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke and U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza. The session brought together community stakeholders to discuss civil rights concerns affecting border communities.
The discussion focused on several key issues, including the Justice Department’s efforts to combat predatory lending practices in communities of color, address unconstitutional conditions in juvenile detention facilities, improve language access, and ensure equal educational opportunities for all residents.
Chair Garza emphasized the importance of continuing to engage directly with communities to better understand and address their civil rights challenges, particularly in regions like El Paso that are uniquely impacted by border issues.
See Relevant Commission Reports:
- Examining Fair Housing and Equal Access to Housing Opportunities in Minnesota – An examination of discriminatory housing practices and barriers to equal housing opportunities for marginalized communities in Minnesota.
- Mental Healthcare in the Texas Juvenile Justice System – A report assessing the inadequate mental health services provided to youth in the Texas juvenile justice system and their civil rights implications.
- Payday Lending in Rhode Island – An examination of how payday lending practices disproportionately impact communities of color, particularly those with lower incomes.
- Civil Rights and the Mortgage Crisis – A report exploring the civil rights implications of the mortgage crisis, with a focus on discriminatory lending practices and their long-term effects on minority communities.
