Bexar County leaders voted to spend $1 million to continue the county's Immigrant Legal Defense Fund. The fund pays nonprofit lawyers to represent residents facing deportation. The decision has sparked debate in the county over immigration and public safety.
What commissioners voted on
Just before the holidays, the four Democratic members of the Bexar County Commissioners Court voted to extend the $1 million contract with American Gateways, while Precinct 3 Commissioner Grant Moody cast the lone no vote, saying, "It doesn't make any sense, it's an egregious use, misuse of taxpayer dollars," and warning the county could face a state lawsuit. At the meeting, one of American Gateways’ attorneys said most of the people they represent have no criminal history, though the organization declined an interview, according to News 4 San Antonio.
What the fund has done so far
A program one‑pager supplied to reporters shows American Gateways has provided legal representation to 84 clients under the Bexar County fund and completed more than 10,000 intake screenings, while documenting cases in which attorneys secured releases from ICE detention. The document highlights family reunifications and social‑service referrals tied to the program. Those figures appear in an impact sheet from American Gateways provided to local media.
How the program started
The $1 million pilot was first approved after years of advocacy from local nonprofits and a commissioners vote in May 2024 that split the initial contracts between American Gateways and RAICES. As reported by San Antonio Express-News, county officials expected the first-year funding to help roughly 100 people, and advocates said legal counsel dramatically improves outcomes in removal proceedings.
State legal challenge could be next
Opponents pointed to a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against Harris County last November over a similar deportation-defense program, arguing Bexar could face the same legal test. The Houston Chronicle reported that Paxton's suit says such programs violate the Texas Constitution's gift clause and has already triggered litigation in other counties.
Why county leaders say it matters
Supporters, including County Judge Peter Sakai and Precinct 1 Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores, say the program protects due process, helps keep families together and reduces costs by returning people to the workforce. Clay-Flores told a News 4 San Antonio reporter she was "98 percent sure" most cases were about family reunification, and the county told the station it rejected an open-records request for case files, saying the records are judicial and not subject to the Texas Public Information Act.
For now the contracts remain in place and advocates say the program has already changed outcomes for dozens of people, while critics continue to press for guardrails and more transparency. The dispute now sets up a possible legal showdown that could determine whether other Texas counties can continue similar programs.
