Judge rejects Paxton's efforts to shut down El Paso migrant shelter
EL PASO (Nexstar) -- A state district judge on Tuesday declined Attorney General Ken Paxton's request to shutter Annunciation House, a Catholic charity providing food and shelter to migrants and refugees near the U.S-Mexico border.
Judge Francisco Dominguez sided with the shelter, sharply criticizing Paxton's legal action as "outrageous and intolerable," accusing him of acting outside of his authority for political motivations.
"The Attorney General’s conduct in harassing and pursuing predetermined outcomes, without regard to the rights of Annunciation House’s employees and guests is imminent, ongoing and irreparable," Dominguez wrote.
Paxton has not yet responded to the ruling. Nexstar has requested a statement.
Paxton asked the court to pause the shelter’s operations after the shelter fought his office’s requests for a swath of records. Paxton accuses the shelter of encouraging people to cross the border illegally and hindering law enforcement’s efforts to arrest illegal immigrants.
“Any non-governmental organization (NGO) facilitating the unlawful entry of illegal aliens into Texas is undermining the rule of law and potentially jeopardizing the safety and wellbeing of our citizens,” Paxton said last month. “All NGOs who are complicit in Joe Biden’s illegal immigration catastrophe and think they are above the law should consider themselves on notice.”
Annunciation House’s attorney accused the attorney general of violating the charity’s religious freedom, subjecting them to unreasonable search and seizure, and making false claims to generate negative press about “chaos” on the border. He praised the ruling on Tuesday.
"The Attorney General's harassment of Annunciation House is morally and legally improper, and it's not surprising that the court agreed with us on all of the grounds," Jerry Wesevich with Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid said. "If he ever succeeded on his claim that he should close Annunciation House, what's going to happen? All that's going to mean is more people in El Paso streets. Who does that help? All it does is provide a narrative of chaos on the border."
Wesevich said he expects the state will likely appeal.