Texas judge rejects state AG Paxton's bid to question leader of migrant aid organization

A Texas judge has rejected the bid by the office of state Attorney General Ken Paxton to question the leader of a local organization providing aid to migrants.

Concretely, Travis County judge Maya Guerra Gamble, of the 459th Civil District Court, denied a request by Paxton's office to depose a representative of Team Brownsville, which provides water, shelter and other basic necessities to migrants seeking asylum in the U.S.

Paxton had argued that it had a "reasonable basis" to believe the organization was helping immigrants enter the country illegally. It also claimed that "former board members and volunteers" accused the organization of poor financial accountability regarding funds received from the government and donors. It did not specify any potential wrongdoing.

The rejection is the latest of several Paxton has received in his attempts to crack down on organizations aiding migrants reaching the state.

Last week, a Houston judge prevented an effort to shut down FIEL, an immigrants' rights organization, after the AG's office accused it of violating nonprofit rules by making political statements after criticizing former President Donald Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

But perhaps the most high-profile effort was aimed at Annunciation House, a Catholic charity helping migrants in the state. The initiative was even criticized by Pope Francis, who called it "madness."

"That is madness, sheer madness to close the border and leave them there. That is madness. The migrant has to be received. Thereafter, you see how you're going to deal with them. Maybe after you send them back, I don't know. But each case ought to be considered humanely, right?" Pope Francis said in an interview with CBS News' 60 Minutes in May.

Texas' efforts to this end began in February and are part of a wider crackdown seeking to drastically reduce the amount of migrants reaching its territory. Back then, Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the organization saying it has encouraged illegal entry into the U.S. and in practice operates as a stash house.

However, despite Paxton's efforts, an El Paso judge rejected the request in July. Judge Francisco Domínguez said that the AG's claim, "even if accepted as true, does not establish a violation" of state laws prohibiting human smuggling. He added that state laws are preempted by federal ones and therefore are "unenforceable." However, Paxton has sought to move forward anyway, recently asking the state Supreme Court to allow his office continue its attempts.