Attorney General Ken Paxton has claimed a win in the Supreme Court of Texas against Annunciation House, a border NGO accused of aiding undocumented immigrants. In a recent release, Paxton stated, "Today is a great victory for Texas, secure borders, and the rule of law." The lawsuit alleging that the organization harbored undocumented immigrants and operated a stash house, both in violation of Texas law, will now be able to proceed, as per the Office of the Attorney General.
Following last year's legal actions, Annunciation House received an injunction from a district judge in El Paso, which temporarily prevented the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) from prosecuting the NGO. However, the Supreme Court's decision has overturned the lower court's ruling—Paxton's pursuit against the organization continues with the fervent support of those advocating strong border security measures, despite offering humanitarian aid which is what Annunciation House has claimed it engaged in.
The OAG's accusations against Annunciation House were rooted in substantial public evidence, including in-court statements and employee admissions. These admissions and statements pointed to what the OAG considered systematic violations of state law.
The Supreme Court, having swept aside the accusations of targeting Annunciation House based on religious association, reiterated a directive to the trial court to maintain "a presumption of regularity, good faith, and legality" in their proceedings with the Office of the Attorney General.
