The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), one of the country’s oldest and most respected Latino civil rights organizations, is currently facing a critical juncture that could shape its future. A messy legal dispute, stemming from a long-standing debate about Puerto Rico’s statehood, has created divisions within the group. Members accuse LULAC President, Domingo Garcia, of exacerbating the very discrimination the organization aims to combat. Several current and former members claim that Garcia is attempting to marginalize Puerto Rican members after nearly losing his seat to a Puerto Rican candidate last year. They allege that the organization has suspended Puerto Rican members and unjustly terminated prominent leaders of Puerto Rican descent. Two amendments to LULAC’s constitution are under consideration, one of which threatens to exclude all residents of the island from the group. This internal turmoil comes at a crucial time when LULAC and other major Latino advocacy organizations are preparing to play a significant role in the 2024 presidential election, as Latinos have emerged as influential swing voters.
Hispanic Americans are now one of the fastest-growing and most diverse racial and ethnic voting blocs in the United States, with an estimated 34.5 million eligible voters in the 2022 election alone. LULAC has been vital in mobilizing Latino voters, particularly in support of Democratic candidates. However, the organization’s upcoming national convention in Albuquerque, N.M., is raising concerns among members that the tension within LULAC may reinforce historical divisions between Mexican Americans in the Southwest and Puerto Ricans on the East Coast. Moreover, there are fears that the proposed amendments could empower a small group within the organization who have long sought to exclude Puerto Rican members. Some argue that this infighting may divert attention from critical issues facing the Latino community, such as expanding access to education and addressing the ongoing challenges resulting from the pandemic.
Founded in 1929 by Mexican American veterans of World War I in South Texas, LULAC has faced internal conflicts in the past. During its early years, the organization restricted membership to U.S. citizens, excluding undocumented workers and Mexicans along the border who wanted to join. However, LULAC successfully fought for Hispanic civil rights, aiding desegregation efforts in public schools and promoting homeownership and economic mobility for younger generations of Latinos. It played a significant role in the landmark Supreme Court ruling of 1954 that declared school segregation unconstitutional. As LULAC gained influence and expanded its reach, differences emerged among its members. Latinos, once seen as a homogeneous group, have grappled with questions of political and cultural identity as they have become the second-largest ethnic voter bloc in the country, following white Americans. Consequently, the suspensions and proposed constitutional changes within LULAC might be indicative of the organization’s future direction.
One proposed amendment aims to revise LULAC’s constitution by limiting membership to residents of the United States, excluding Puerto Rico. Another amendment suggests that Puerto Rican membership should be proportional to the Puerto Rican population in the U.S. Carlos Fajardo, the state director of LULAC in Puerto Rico who is currently in limbo due to his alleged suspension, deems these amendments discriminatory and an act of prejudice against Puerto Ricans. Fajardo highlights that Puerto Ricans have been part of the organization for over 30 years and now find themselves fighting for their civil rights within a civil rights organization. Joe Henry, LULAC’s state political director for Iowa, and a Mexican American, argues that it is illogical for the organization to exclude residents of Puerto Rico, who are American citizens. He believes such a move contradicts the spirit and mission of LULAC, which advocates for collective unity and support. Garcia, the president of LULAC, denies allegations of discrimination and claims that the organization is investigating the funding sources of its Puerto Rican councils to ensure compliance with nonprofit regulations. He asserts that the issue revolves around the origin of the funding and not an attempt to marginalize Puerto Rican members.
Amending LULAC’s constitution is a challenging process that requires a two-thirds vote from all registered delegates at the national assembly. Although LULAC boasts approximately 132,000 members and supporters in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, not all attend the conference, making the amendment approval even more complex. Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans have historically constituted the largest Latino subgroups in the U.S., with Mexican Americans accounting for nearly 60% of the Latino population (approximately 37.2 million people), according to the Pew Research Center. This tension within LULAC emerged last year during the organization’s conference in Puerto Rico when the proceedings were halted due to a lawsuit filed against the board members by five leaders, accusing them of colluding with the New Progressive Party in Puerto Rico to influence the election outcome. Despite the suspension, approximately 900 members gathered in Puerto Rico and conducted a symbolic voice vote in favor of Juan Carlos Lizardi, a candidate challenging Garcia for the presidency. A member named Bernardo Eureste, who drafted the amendments to exclude Puerto Rican residents, argues that the proposed changes aim to clarify existing constitutional provisions and prevent what he perceives as a takeover of the organization. When asked about the perceived contradiction to the organization’s unity, Eureste questions the intentions of the questioner, whether they were sent by Puerto Ricans or mainlanders.
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