FBI Not Biased Against Latinos, U.S. Attorney Says
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EL PASO — Latino FBI agents are valued for their linguistic ability and are treated fairly, a government attorney said today, the first day of a trial in a discrimination lawsuit against the agency.
Bernard (Matt) Perez, 48, believed to be the highest-ranking Latino agent in the FBI, and 280 other Latino agents contend that the FBI’s promotion policy discriminates against them. The suit, which seeks $5 million damages for Perez, was filed in January, 1987.
In his opening statement, government attorney Alan Ferber said the government will prove that Perez’s problems with the agency were job-related and not race-related.
The hearing is being held without a jury before U.S. Judge Lucius Bunton.
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