The Texas Attorney General’s office has filed a lawsuit to close Annunciation House, a well-known Catholic nonprofit that is well-known for housing migrants in El Paso, Texas, in a sharp escalation of tensions over immigration policy.

The conflict came to a head when officials from the Attorney General’s office descended upon Annunciation House on February 7, demanding extensive documentation, including the identities of all migrants the organization has assisted, within a tight 24-hour window, as revealed in court records.

Migrant Sheltering in Peril

In response, an attorney representing Annunciation House swiftly filed a lawsuit on February 8, seeking to delay the release of records and challenging the legality of the Attorney General’s request. 

Annunciation House, in a statement, accused the AG’s office of harboring intentions to dismantle the organization, asserting, “The AG has now made explicit that its real goal is not records but to shut down the organization.”

Further exacerbating the situation, the Attorney General’s office retaliated by filing a counterclaim accusing Annunciation House of involvement in human smuggling. The allegation contends that the organization provides migrants in its shelters with information on navigating the legal system and filing asylum claims.

Attorney General Ken Paxton doubled down on these accusations, alleging that Annunciation House contributes to “worsening illegal immigration” and criticizing the Biden Administration for funding NGOs that, according to Paxton, facilitate illicit activities like human smuggling.

Amidst the legal wrangling, Annunciation House staunchly defended its mission, emphasizing its decades-long commitment to providing hospitality to refugees, a mission recognized by the Catholic Church and listed in the National Catholic Directory. The organization’s network of shelters has earned it widespread recognition and respect in the region.

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Texas AG’s ‘Human Smuggling’ Allegations

The standoff between Annunciation House and the Texas Attorney General’s office underscores the broader ideological divide over immigration policy, with Annunciation House positioning itself as a humanitarian beacon while state authorities seek to assert control over immigration matters.

This clash occurs against the backdrop of SB4, a contentious law slated to take effect on March 5, which would empower law enforcement to arrest individuals suspected of being undocumented migrants and facilitate their removal, regardless of their country of origin.

As the legal battle intensifies, Annunciation House plans to address the public directly through a press conference on Friday. 

In anticipation of this event, the organization reaffirmed its commitment to assisting migrants and drew parallels between its work and that of other essential community institutions, such as hospitals, schools, and religious organizations, challenging the notion that aiding migrants constitutes illegal activity.

As the fate of Annunciation House hangs in the balance, the outcome of this legal showdown carries significant implications for the treatment of migrants and the role of nonprofit organizations in providing humanitarian aid along the United States-Mexico border.

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