Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is using the full power of the law to shutter Annunciation House, a faith-based nonprofit from El Paso that has been helping migrants on the border for almost 50 years.
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC) has crafted this letter to support Annunciation House and is inviting other clergy and faith-based groups to sign-on by Monday, March 4 at 11 a.m. CT. We as the IWC have signed it.
Annunciation House, a Catholic nonprofit, has been providing essential services – including shelter, food, and legal assistance – to migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border since 1978. On Feb. 7, 2024, the Attorney General’s Office demanded full access to its records by the next day. Failure to comply would trigger proceedings to shut down the nonprofit, revoke its license to practice in Texas and the liquidation of its assets.
Paxton accused the Catholic nonprofit of:
- “Human smuggling” because it provides transportation for migrants to its four shelters;
- “Encouraging or inducing” others to enter the U.S. illegally by providing them with essential services;
- “Operating an illegal stash house” by “potentially allowing others to use its real estate to engage in human smuggling;”
- Further, Paxton said, it “may counsel aliens to commit fraud” because it holds workshops on how to navigate the asylum system.
The political motivation behind the request can be seen in a document on the Attorney General’s web page stating in part:
“The chaos at the southern border has created an environment where NGOs, funded with taxpayer money from the Biden Administration, facilitate astonishing horrors including human smuggling. While the federal government perpetuates the lawlessness destroying this country, my office works day in and day out to hold these organizations responsible for worsening illegal immigration.”
Annunciation House did NOT refuse the request for documents but instead filed a Temporary Restraining Order to ensure only legal documents are released. A new court date to discuss Annunciation House’s counterclaim is scheduled for March 7, 2024.
Please help us thwart this attack on faith-based organizations. Ask your faith leader to sign this letter. Ask your faith organization to sign this letter on behalf of all the members.
Read and share the IIC letter here. Then share this link to Sign on.
Alternatively, you as an individual can Send a message to the Office of the Attorney General Of Texas, or send a message to Annunciation House, letting them know of your support and prayers for their continuing service of welcoming the stranger.
