The lawsuit claims Sheriff Javier Salazar personally disqualified Luis Borges after deputies discovered his wife’s altar to La Santa Muerte.
SAN ANTONIO — A lawsuit against the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Javier Salazar by a man who claims he wasn’t hired because of his wife’s religious beliefs—will be allowed to move forward.
For almost a year, a federal lawsuit has accused the sheriff’s office of religious discrimination. Now, attorneys for Luis Borges say the lawsuit is moving forward, after the sheriff’s office tried to get the case dismissed.
Borges is a roman catholic, who was hired as a detention officer. Days before his start date, deputies discovered his wife’s altar to La Santa Muerte—a Mexican folk saint of death.
Borges claims his recruiter later confirmed Sheriff Javier Salazar personally disqualified Borges because of the Mexican folk saint, allegedly stating “the sheriff has the final decision.”
For context, La Santa Muerte, a controversial figure rebuked by the Catholic Church, is associated with “healing, protection and safe delivery to the afterlife” by her devotees. The figure also has a bad reputation among law enforcement often being associated with organized crime.
The lawsuit argues that Salazar’s decision violates the first amendment. In the most recent development, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a finding of reasonable cause that Borges was denied employment because of his wife’s religious belief.
The lawsuit was filed back in November of last year.
KENS 5 reached out to the sheriff’s office about the lawsuit for comment but did not immediately hear back.