Texas – Governor Greg Abbott said the Texas Supreme Court’s latest ruling prevents Harris County from using taxpayer money to fund legal services connected to immigrants facing deportation proceedings.
“The Texas Supreme Court rules, for now, that Harris County cannot use tax dollars to fund illegal immigrant legal challenges to deportation,” Abbott said. “That is not a function of county government. It’s just another example of wasteful spending by local governments that must end.”
The Texas Supreme Court issued a temporary order blocking Harris County from distributing funds connected to its Immigrant Legal Services Fund and Immigration Resource Hotline while a legal challenge continues. The court said the decision was not a final ruling on the merits of the case but found there was “serious doubt” about whether the county had the constitutional or statutory authority to operate the program, per reports.
The ruling came after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton challenged Harris County’s use of public funds for programs that provide legal assistance to immigrants involved in deportation cases. The state argued that the county did not have authority to spend taxpayer dollars on those services.
The court ordered Harris County to stop disbursing funds connected to the Immigrant Legal Services Fund and Immigration Resource Hotline until further order from the court. The justices also noted that once the money was spent, it could not easily be recovered, which was part of the reason for granting temporary relief.
The legal battle centers around a Harris County program that provides funding to nonprofit organizations assisting individuals in immigration proceedings. Supporters of the program have argued that legal representation helps residents understand the court process and can provide broader benefits for families and communities.
Harris County officials have defended the program, saying the services are intended to provide legal assistance and help people navigate immigration proceedings. Previous court proceedings had allowed the program to continue while the lawsuit moved forward before the Texas Supreme Court stepped in with the temporary order.
The Texas Supreme Court emphasized that the temporary ruling does not decide the final outcome of the case. The court said the appeal process should continue and that Harris County’s arguments would still receive consideration as the case moves forward.
Three justices — Lehrmann, Bland, and Huddle — dissented from the temporary order, stating that the state had not shown the lower court was wrong in declining to block the program at that stage. The dissenting justices also said they were not taking a position on the ultimate merits of the case.
The ruling adds to the ongoing debate in Texas over immigration policy and the role local governments should play in funding services connected to federal immigration proceedings.
For now, Harris County’s funding for the programs remains paused while the courts continue reviewing the dispute.
