FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: media@texascivilrightsproject.org

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Today, a three judge panel of the Western District of Texas preliminarily enjoined Texas’s mid-decade redistricting map determining that plaintiffs were likely to prove that the legislature racially gerrymandered the 2025 map.

In the 2-to-1 decision, Trump-appointed Judge Jeffrey Brown issued a rebuke to the 2025 map and the Department of Justice letter that precipitated its creation, writing it “[W]as much more than just politics. Substantial evidence shows that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 Map.” Moreover, Judge Brown noted “It’s challenging to unpack the DOJ Letter because it contains so many factual, legal, and typographical errors.” The DOJ could have highlighted partisan reasons to redistrict, but “[I]nstead command[ed] Texas to change four districts for one reason and one reason alone: the racial demographics of the voters who live there.”

TCRP and the Asian American Legal Defense Fund filed an amicus brief on behalf of Asian Texans for Justice, OCA-Greater Houston, Emgage, South Asian American Justice Collaborative, CAIR Action Texas, and Fair Maps Texas Action Committee whose memberships would have their representation decreased under the 2025 map.

In the 2025 redistricting Session, Texas Civil Rights Project along with the Fair Maps Coalition, helped mobilize thousands of Texans who opposed the mid-decade attempt to draw Texans of color out of their political power. Over 2,000 people showed up to regional and virtual hearings to oppose this rushed redraw. Despite that fact, the final map was passed with zero opportunity for public testimony or comment.

“The Trump administration does not get to boss Texans around. This decision shows what we at the Texas Civil Rights Project have been saying all along: Texas’ redistricting efforts are racially motivated attempts to suppress the voices of voters of color across our state,” said Sarah Xiyi Chen, Senior Supervising Attorney, Voting Rights at the Texas Civil RIghts Project (TCRP). “While it’s likely that this fight continues, Texans can count on TCRP and our partners to stand up for your right to cast a ballot fairly and have your voice heard.”

“Amidst the relentless attacks on democracy and immigrant communities, this is a win worth celebrating and a reminder of what we can accomplish in coalition. The voices of Asian, Pacific Islander, and other communities of color deserve to be heard,” said Niji Jain, Legal Director of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF).

“We welcome the federal court’s decision to block Texas from using an unconstitutional mid-decade congressional map. Racial gerrymanders that strip power from communities of color have no place in our state or our democracy. ATJ will continue to fight for fair maps that honor and reflect Texas’ growing and diverse communities,” said Nabila Mansoor, Co-Executive Director, Asian Texans for Justice.

“Today’s ruling is a powerful reminder that communities of color cannot be written out of our democracy. Texas is home to one of the largest and fastest-growing South Asian communities in the country, and this decision affirms that our voices deserve to be counted and heard. Fair maps are essential to building a government that reflects all of us,” said Kalpana V. Peddibhotla, Executive Director, South Asian American Justice Collaborative (SAAJCO).

“In America our freedom to vote should be fair and equal for all. The majority of the court in El Paso has clearly seen — and set out in detail — how race-bias predominated in the drawing of these new congressional maps to steal the freedom to vote from thousands of minority Texans. Maps drawn in secret backrooms, with privately hired lawyers and professional redistricting hacks — have been found out in a court of law. Justice has prevailed today. We will continue to do everything we can to preserve it tomorrow and everyday going forward,” said Dave Jones, President, Clean Elections Texas.

#

About Texas Civil Rights Project

The Texas Civil Rights Project is boldly serving the movement for equality and justice in and out of the courts. We use our tools of litigation and legal advocacy to protect and advance the civil rights of everyone in Texas, and we partner with communities across the state to serve the rising movement for social justice. We undertake our work with a vision of a Texas in which all communities can thrive with dignity, justice and without fear.