AUSTIN / HOUSTON — The Texas Attorney General’s office has filed suit against Harris County, alleging the county illegally allocated approximately $1.34 million in taxpayer funds to nonprofit organizations that provide legal representation for individuals facing deportation in immigration proceedings.
The lawsuit, filed in Harris County District Court, targets a decision by the County Commissioners Court on Oct. 16 to approve funding for five legal aid groups: BakerRipley, the Galveston-Houston Immigrant Representation Project, Justice for All Immigrants, KIND, and RAICES.
Hoodline Houston has more on the defense freeze, which Paxton’s office describes as targeting “radical open-border activist groups” that it argues fail to serve any public purpose:
The allocation is part of Harris County’s Immigrant Legal Services Fund, launched in 2020 to pay nonprofits that provide deportation defense to qualifying low‑income county residents, as reported by Click2Houston. Supporters say access to counsel dramatically improves outcomes and keeps families together; critics argue taxpayer dollars shouldn’t underwrite deportation defense.
Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee called the lawsuit “a cheap political stunt” and told FOX 26 Houston the program “is perfectly legal,” adding his office will defend the county in court. County leaders frame the fund as part of their broader commitment to due process for residents who live and work in the community.
Paxton’s case leans on the Texas Constitution’s prohibition against using public funds for private benefits—a theory laid out in the attorney general’s release. The suit asks the court to halt the current payouts and block similar grants going forward, according to Click2Houston. A ruling for the state could tighten how counties across Texas fund immigrant legal services.
The case now heads through Harris County District Court, where county attorneys are expected to argue the program serves a legitimate public purpose. Paxton has pursued similar high‑profile challenges to local programs before; the Office of the Attorney General has listings that put this latest lawsuit in broader political and legal context.
Observers will watch whether this case triggers similar actions in other Texas counties or states regarding immigrant legal aid funding.
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