EL PASO (Nexstar) — Migrant shelter Annunciation House defended itself in court Monday against the state’s attempts to close its door following claims the charity amounts to a “stash house” aiding illegal immigrants.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking a judge to pause the shelter’s operations following the state’s attempt to collect a swath of records that the shelter has fought. 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.
“What the Attorney General is trying to do here is wrong,” Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid attorney Jerry Wesevich said. “We’re talking about the fundamental teaching of Jesus: love one another, no exceptions. If that does not get protection, what does? This is an attack on religious freedom, period.”
Wesevich called Annunciation House “the best of the Catholic faith,” arguing the shelter helps keep people already in the United States off of the streets.
Democratic District Judge Francisco X. Dominguez told the parties he will have a decision within the next two weeks.