Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has hauled Harris County into court, seeking to stop a fresh $1.34 million in county funds earmarked for nonprofits that represent immigrants in deportation proceedings. The suit casts the allocation as an unconstitutional gift of public money and asks a judge to put the brakes on any disbursements while the case moves forward. County officials say they’ll defend the program—and suggest the whole thing smacks of politics, as reported by the Office of the Attorney General.
Paxton’s lawsuit and the money at issue
Filed in Harris County District Court, Paxton’s complaint targets a recent 4‑1 vote by the Commissioners Court authorizing $1,344,751 for five legal-aid groups: BakerRipley, the Galveston‑Houston Immigrant Representation Project, Justice for All Immigrants, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) and RAICES, according to the Office of the Attorney General. The filing labels the recipients “radical open‑border activist groups” and argues the spending “serve[s] no public purpose.”
How the county program works
The allocation is part of Harris County’s Immigrant Legal Services Fund, launched in 2020 to pay nonprofits that provide deportation defense to qualifying low‑income county residents, as reported by Click2Houston. Supporters say access to counsel dramatically improves outcomes and keeps families together; critics argue taxpayer dollars shouldn’t underwrite deportation defense.
County officials push back
Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee called the lawsuit “a cheap political stunt” and told FOX 26 Houston the program “is perfectly legal,” adding his office will defend the county in court. County leaders frame the fund as part of their broader commitment to due process for residents who live and work in the community.
Legal implications
Paxton’s case leans on the Texas Constitution’s prohibition against using public funds for private benefits—a theory laid out in the attorney general’s release. The suit asks the court to halt the current payouts and block similar grants going forward, according to Click2Houston. A ruling for the state could tighten how counties across Texas fund immigrant legal services.
What comes next
The case now heads through Harris County District Court, where county attorneys are expected to argue the program serves a legitimate public purpose. Paxton has pursued similar high‑profile challenges to local programs before; the Office of the Attorney General has listings that put this latest lawsuit in broader political and legal context.
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