A judge in El Paso on Tuesday blocked Attorney General Ken Paxton’s efforts to shutter Annunciation House, a Catholic charity accused of aiding illegal border crossings.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the dispute arose when Paxton filed a lawsuit against El-Paso-based Annunciation House, alleging that the organization was complicit in assisting illegal aliens to unlawfully enter the United States.
Paxton sought an injunction after filing a February lawsuit, claiming that Annunciation House refused to comply with the Office of the Attorney General’s request to provide documents related to alleged illegal activities.
Paxton’s lawsuit asserted that these documents were crucial for the state’s investigation into Annunciation House’s operations. It alleged that the charity had been involved in numerous illegal activities, including aiding illegal entry to the country, harboring illegal aliens, various human smuggling activities, and also running a stash house.
Judge Francisco Dominguez, who previously halted Paxton’s subpoenas during the ongoing legal process, sided decisively with Annunciation House in a ruling issued on Tuesday. The judge granted the charity’s request for summary judgment, effectively dismissing Paxton’s case against the organization.
In his order, Judge Dominguez criticized the approach Paxton took in his lawsuit, citing concerns over constitutional rights and accusing Paxton of retaliating against Annunciation House’s use of its First Amendment right to expressive association.
Annunciation House, which “operates several houses of hospitality” advertising assistance to the “migrant, refugee, and economically vulnerable peoples of the border region through hospitality, advocacy, and education.”
The organization celebrated the court’s decision as a victory for human rights, according to reporting by The Texan.
An attorney for the charity expressed relief, emphasizing the potential consequences of shutting down Annunciation House’s operations.
“If [Paxton] ever succeeded on his claim that he should close Annunciation House, what’s gonna happen? All that’s going to mean is more people in El Paso streets,” the attorney stated, per KXAN News.
Following the judge’s ruling, the OAG indicated its intention to appeal the decision to the Eighth Court of Appeals, setting the stage for further legal confrontation. The appeal could potentially escalate the case to the Texas Supreme Court, reported The Texan.
Since President Joe Biden took office, the foreign-born population of the United States has grown by 6.4 million. This means that over 51.4 million individuals, or approximately 15.5% of the total population, living in the country were born elsewhere, according to earlier reports from The Dallas Express.
Furthermore, according to data analyzed by The Center Square, over 12 million illegal aliens have crossed the border into the U.S. since 2021. This figure includes more than 241,000 apprehensions of illegal border crossers in May alone.
The Dallas Express contacted Annunciation House for comment on the OAG’s allegations but has not yet received a response.