He Seems Nice

"Ken Paxton sues to revoke an El Paso nonprofit’s state registration after it didn’t immediately hand over client records"
https://t.co/3zIkQMO8vZ

— Sonal Shah (@SonalRShah) February 21, 2024

The Consumer Protection Division of the attorney general’s office launched an investigation into Annunciation House on Feb. 7, demanding the release of documentation within one day, the small nonprofit requested an extension to review what information the organization was legally required to turn over. 

The state denied the extension, so the Catholic nonprofit sued the state, requesting a court rule on which documents the group must hand over to the attorney general. Additionally, to buy time, Annunciation House also requested a restraining order against the attorney general to grant the Catholic organization relief from the state’s immediate demands. 

In turn, Attorney General Ken Paxton announced his office was suing the organization for failing to comply with the demand and suggested the religious nonprofit of “worsening illegal immigration.” If a judge sides with the state, the lawsuit could prevent the group from operating in Texas, which it’s done since 1976.

To be clear:

Paxton's office accused Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas, of "facilitating illegal entry to the United States" and "human smuggling," filing a lawsuit in an attempt to shut it down.

Is this a stunt by Paxton? Is the Pope Catholic?

Ruben Garcia, director of Annunciation House, told reporters at a Feb. 23 press conference that the nonprofit has been providing basic resources like food, shelter and water to migrants and refugees who arrive at the border for nearly 50 years in consultation with the U.S. Border Patrol. 

"There are individuals who have decided that that should be illegal," he said. 

In a Feb. 20 statement announcing his lawsuit against Annunciation House, Paxton's office alleged the group was a "stash house" facilitating illegal entry to the United States, a charge Garcia took particular umbrage with. 

"I personally am taken aback by the use of words like 'smuggling,' to call our houses of hospitality 'stash houses,' " he said. "Is there no shame?" 

Jerome Wesevich, a Texas RioGrande Legal Aid attorney representing Annunciation House, said Paxton's office sent representatives to Annunciation House demanding the group hand over documents within just one day and without judicial review, which he said was outside appropriate legal norms and requirements. 

Wesevich said that courts, not the attorney general's office, are the appropriate arbiters of whether documents should be turned over, and, if so, then which documents.

Paxton wants some of that sweet “border crisis” attention to shore up his GOP cred as he attacks fellow Republicans in the primaries. But did you miss that part about Annunciation House working with Border Patrol?

Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, who represents a district that includes El Paso, in comments at the press conference, called Annunciation House "a key partner to the United States Border Patrol."

So Paxton’s claim is: a) Border Patrol is a dupe; b) Border Patrol is a partner in human trafficking. I want to see the evidence on that one.

“I can tell you that in the U.S. Congress, the extreme far-right members of the Republican Party have done everything possible to eliminate financial support to local governments and organizations that are providing care, humanitarian care, to migrants," [Escobar] said. "I have heard on the House Judiciary Committee Republican colleagues denounce and attack Catholic Charities and the Catholic Church for the way that it seeks to help support immigrants and migrants and asylum-seekers." 

Some Republican lawmakers in 2023 sent a letter to Catholic Charities, probing their work with migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.

I guess Jesus was pro-human trafficking, too. The Deep State is deep.

Wesevich said that courts, not the attorney general's office, are the appropriate arbiters of whether documents should be turned over, and, if so, then which documents. 

"This should be an orderly process," Wesevich said. 

"What has turned into this, a roomful of people," he said, gesturing at those gathered for the press conference, "could have been handled in a few emails between reasonable people. Instead, it appears that Attorney General Paxton wants to use this request for documents simply as a pretext to close Annunciation House, and he did not realize what he was getting himself into. So we feel that the law is pretty strong on our side." 

Wesevich said, "Attorney General Paxton compounds his abuse of power by focusing it on a religious organization that is putting the Catholic faith into practice." 

Annunciation House, Wesevich said, "does not decide who gets to come to the United States and who gets to stay here." 

"Other people worry about those things," Wesevich said. "Annunciation House only provides basic services to vulnerable families. Food, clothing, a place to lay their heads. America remains a free country where the law protects Annunciation House's right to do this work." 

Wesevich quipped that it wasn't just the law on Annunciation House's side, but the Gospel as well. 

"It's all in the Bible," he said. "Attorney General Paxton may want to dust off his Bible and read through it sometime."

Paxton doesn’t have a legal, or moral, leg to stand on. Simply treating human beings like human beings is apparently beyond the pale, however.

There really is no bottom, is there?