Texas high court hears arguments in AG’s effort to shut down Catholic migrant ministry
written by Kate Scanlon 1 day ago
(OSV News) — The Texas Supreme Court Jan. 13 heard oral arguments in a case concerning Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s attempt to shut down El Paso’s Annunciation House, a Catholic nonprofit serving migrants.
In court filings and press statements since February 2024, Paxton’s office has alleged Annunciation House runs “stash houses,” facilitates illegal border crossings, conceals “illegally present aliens from law enforcement” and did not turn over documents the office sought in its investigation. But Annunciation House and its attorneys denied wrongdoing or illegal conduct and said Paxton’s office did not adhere to appropriate legal processes for requesting documents from the organization.
In July, a state judge denied Paxton’s effort to shut down the nonprofit, finding that his office “failed to establish probable grounds for the proceedings” and that the effort violated the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, among other issues. Shortly after, Paxton appealed directly to the state’s highest court to revive his effort.
During arguments, Assistant Attorney General Ryan Baasch said Annunciation House “is not immunized because of its religion.” Amy Warr, an attorney representing Annunciation House, said the attorney general’s office used “rhetoric” rather than evidence in its claims, and there is no evidence of illegal conduct on the ministry’s part.
https://www.osvnews.com/2025/01/14/texas-high-court-hears-arguments-in-ags-effort-to-shut-down-catholic-migrant-ministry/
