'Climate of fear': Judge rejects Texas AG’s petition to shut down group for criticizing Trump

23 August 2024

Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton's attempt to shut down an immigrant rights group for political speech was just thrown out by a Texas judge.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Paxton was hoping to have Harris County District Judge R.K. Sandill issue a temporary injunction against the organization FIEL Houston ("Familias Immigrantes y Estudiantes en la Lucha," which translates to "immigrant families and students in the struggle") for alleged "inappropriate political involvement." However, Sandill rejected Paxton's petition on Friday, meaning the group can continue to operate.

The Chronicle's Brooke Kushwaha reported that Paxton was hoping to force FIEL Houston to cease operations after the group spoke out against former President Donald Trump, Republican Governor Greg Abbott and the draconian Senate Bill 4 immigration law Abbott signed in 2023. Houston-based lawyer Christian D. Menefee filed an amicus brief earlier this week on behalf of FIEL Houston, accusing Paxton of using the power of his office to harass pro-immigrant groups.

"It is clear the Attorney General is overstepping his role by singling out organizations like FIEL that advocate for immigrants and their families," Menefee wrote in a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter). "Lawsuits like this not only undermine the hard work of organizations that provide critical resources to immigrants but also perpetuate a climate of fear and division."

In her article, Kushwaha noted that FIEL Houston is just the latest target of Paxton's offensive against immigrant rights groups, which he accuses of aiding and abetting illegal immigration. She added: "The case against FIEL Houston is the first time, however, that Paxton has targeted an organization for political speech."

Earlier this year, Paxton announced an investigation into the Catholic-run Annunciation House in El Paso. In a letter to the organization, Paxton's office gave the group just one day to turn over documents containing sensitive information about the migrants that stayed in the group's facilities.

The Texas Tribune reported that Paxton's office described the Annunciation House as "an illegal stash house" that was "engaged in the business of human smuggling." But on the group's website, Annunciation House "accompan[ies] the migrant, refugee, and economically vulnerable peoples of the border region through hospitality, advocacy, and education."

Immigrant-focused charities have been a frequent target of the far right in recent years. Pro-Nazi commentator Stew Peters said in a 2023 speech that aid workers for charities that help undocumented immigrants should be murdered.

""These people cross into Mexico and coach illegals on how to get admitted here…These are these, you know, not-for-profit charities. Catholic Charities is a very good example," Peters said last October. "We need troops on the border that will shoot people that are trying to invade our country. That’d be a good first step. But you know what a better second step would be? Shooting everyone involved with these fake charities."

Click here to read the Chronicle's report in its entirety.

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