Black and Latino residents’ complaints about illegal trash dumping in Houston lead to federal investigation

Houston City Hall. The Department of Justice announced Friday that it will investigate the city of Houston's policies regarding illegal dumping and their impact on Black and Latino residents. (Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune)

HOUSTON — The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether the city of Houston has illegally violated Black and Latino residents’ civil rights regarding how the city handles unlawful dumping of trash, federal investigators announced Friday.

The Justice Department will examine the city’s enforcement and solid-waste management operations, policies and practices when it responds to residents’ requests for municipal services — including how the city picks up illegally discarded trash — and whether those processes have discriminated against Black and Latino Houston residents in violation of federal civil rights law.