Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Harris County for allocating funds to groups that provide legal aid to undocumented migrants, according to a news release.
In a press release, Paxton called the program “evil and wicked” and accused the county of “robbing Texans” to defend people in the country illegally. Paxton is running in the Texas Republican primary for U.S. Senate against incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Representative Wesley Hunt.
Why It Matters
In a recent 4‑1 vote, the Harris County Commissioners Court approved $1,344,751 in taxpayer funds for distribution to several nonprofit organizations that provide legal representation to immigrants facing deportation.
What To Know
The funds were allocated to the Galveston‑Houston Immigrant Representation Project, Justice for All Immigrants, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, and BakerRipley.
Harris County, which includes Houston, established the Immigrant Legal Services Fund in 2020 and appropriated the additional funds to continue the program, which aims to ensure immigrants have access to legal counsel in removal proceedings.
According to the program’s website, assistance is available only to current and future Harris County residents who are held in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility and have incomes below 80 percent of the area’s median family income.
“These expenditures serve no public purpose and instead constitute unconstitutional grants of public funds to private entities to subsidize individual deportation defenses,” Paxton argued in court documents.
Paxton argued that Harris County’s use of public funds violates the Texas Constitution.
Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee called Paxton’s move a “cheap political stunt” and said the program is legal.
What People Are Saying
Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee told The Texas Tribune: “At a time when the president has unleashed ICE agents to terrorize immigrant neighborhoods, deport U.S. citizens, and trample the law, it’s shameful that Republican state officials are joining in instead of standing up for Texans.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a press release: “We must stop the left-wing radicals who are robbing Texans to prevent illegals from being deported by the Trump Administration. Beyond just being blatantly unconstitutional, this is evil and wicked. Millions upon millions of illegals invaded America during the last administration, and they must be sent back to where they came from.”
Commissioner Rodney Ellis in a statement: “As ICE raids ramp up and federal attacks target communities of color, it’s essential for Harris County to do everything we can to protect our residents, no matter their immigration status. Having access to legal representation not only improves case outcomes but helps keep families together. In a county as diverse as ours, local government must step up to safeguard safety, justice, and the people we serve.”
What Happens Next
The State of Texas is seeking both temporary and permanent injunctions to stop Harris County from disbursing funds for deportation-defense or other immigration-related legal services. Harris County said they would defend their actions in court.