Attorney General Paxton Successfully Stops Harris County from Using Taxpayer Funds to Protect Illegal Immigrants from Deportation
“This is a major win for protecting taxpayer dollars. It’s deeply wrong that any Texan should be forced to have their hard-earned dollars taken from them only to be handed out to defend illegal aliens. It’s unacceptable, it’s illegal, and it will not stand in the Lone Star State.”
— Attorney General Ken PaxtonPaxton added: “I commend the Texas Supreme Court for correctly ordering that this unlawful program is frozen as the case continues.”
The full order is available for public review on the Texas Attorney General’s website.
📋 Case at a Glance
Background of the Program
Harris County established the Immigrant Legal Services Fund (ILSF) around 2020. Democrat-led commissioners approved the latest funding allocation in October 2025, directing it toward organizations including BakerRipley and the Galveston-Houston Immigrant Representation Project to provide deportation defense and legal referrals. An earlier appeals court ruling in February 2026 had allowed the program to continue while litigation proceeded — but the Texas Supreme Court has now reversed course.
The Court’s Order
The Texas Supreme Court granted temporary relief to AG Paxton, citing “serious doubt about the constitutionality” of the program. In a two-page order, the court found it “not clear that the County has constitutional or statutory authority to conduct” the initiative, emphasizing concerns over the use of public funds for private nonprofits and the difficulty of recovering those expenditures once spent.
Court’s Direct Order: Harris County is directed to “refrain from disbursing funds in connection with the Immigrant Legal Services Fund and the Immigration Resource Hotline until further order of this Court.” The ruling does not resolve the merits — the case remains pending before a state appeals court.
Reactions
🏛️ State Officials
Governor Greg Abbott and AG Paxton praised the decision, criticizing the use of tax dollars to fund legal defense for those unlawfully in the U.S. — calling it an improper and illegal expenditure of public funds.
🏙️ Harris County
Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin expressed disappointment, noting the ruling is not final and that the county will continue defending the program as protecting due process and keeping families together.
What’s Next?
The temporary freeze keeps the program on hold while the underlying constitutional challenge continues — centered on whether the county’s use of funds violates Texas’s “Gift Clause” prohibiting gratuitous public expenditures. A final resolution could set statewide precedent for similar programs in other Texas counties.
This case underscores deepening tensions between state and local governments over immigration policy and public resource allocation in Texas — a legal and political battle that is far from over.
World Abrahamic Movement Launches First Orientation Conference — Digital Summit June 29
Tom Wegner
CEO & Founder, World Abrahamic MovementThe World Abrahamic Movement has launched its first Orientation Conference — and the global response has been overwhelming. People from across continents and faiths are asking: What is the Abrahamic Movement? What is happening? How can I be part of it?
The pace of interest has been so swift that CEO and founder Tom Wegner has announced a dedicated digital summit to explain the movement, provide updates, and open the floor to a global audience.
“Many people from all over the world are asking us what the Abrahamic Movement is and what’s going on — and we can hardly keep up with the pace of developments. We will be holding this digital summit to explain, update, and answer questions.”
— Tom Wegner, CEO & Founder, World Abrahamic MovementWho Will Be Speaking
Soraya Deen
Founder of the Bureau of Muslim Speakers in the United States. A leading voice for Muslim engagement in interfaith dialogue.
Aviv Beilis Lerner
Building the movement’s global network and expanding Abrahamic partnerships across regions and continents.
Majd Jbaily
The movement’s dedicated envoy deepening outreach and inclusion across the Abrahamic spectrum.
Tom Wegner
Visionary founder of the Global Abrahamic Movement, leading one of the world’s most ambitious interfaith initiatives.
The summit will cover: What the World Abrahamic Movement is · The Orientation Conference goals · Global growth updates · How people of all faiths can get involved · Live Q&A in English · Register via the sign-up link ↗
RIU Special Report
This is a special report by the Rooted in Unity editorial team. Sources: Texas Attorney General’s Office & World Abrahamic Movement.