They Pay the Price for “Helping” the Undocumented: Texas Sues One of Its Counties

Texas sues county over legal support

Public funds in dispute

State–county clash

The Texas government has once again escalated its legal offensive against local policies aimed at supporting undocumented immigrants.

This time, the target is Bexar County, one of the largest and most populous counties in the state. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accuses the county of illegally using public money to fund legal defense for individuals facing deportation proceedings.

The case reopens the clash between Republican state authorities and Democratic-led local governments over immigration policy.

Texas vs Pro-Immigrant Counties

Texas Sues County Over Immigrant Legal Aid – Photo: Shutterstock

Legal Pressure Intensifies Against Support for Immigrants

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit this Wednesday against Bexar County and its commissioners for allegedly illegally allocating taxpayer funds to finance legal defense for immigrants facing deportation.

In an official statement, Paxton detailed that last December the Bexar County Commissioners Court approved the allocation of $566,181 in public funds to provide legal services to undocumented immigrants. According to the lawsuit, this decision violates current state law.

“State funds cannot be used to finance defense services against deportation for individuals who are illegally present in the country,” the attorney general warned in the statement, making the state’s position on such programs clear.

The Accusation: Million-Dollar Use of Public Funds to Support Immigrants

Beyond the amount approved in December, the Republican attorney general claims that the county may have used up to $1 million in public funds to support undocumented immigrants.

For the Attorney General’s Office, this spending represents a misuse of taxpayer resources and a direct challenge to state legislation.

The lawsuit seeks to immediately halt any additional disbursements and to set a precedent limiting local governments’ ability to fund legal aid programs related to immigration.

The Fund That Triggered the Bexar County Lawsuit

Bexar County created an Immigration Legal Services fund in 2024 with the goal of supporting area residents affected by immigration enforcement operations.

Similar initiatives have been implemented in other Democratic-led areas, such as Los Angeles, where local officials argue that guaranteeing legal defense contributes to community stability.

However, for the state government, these funds cross a legal line by allocating public resources to individuals without lawful immigration status.

Paxton Seeks to Halt Contracts and Recover Funds

In his lawsuit, Paxton requested a temporary restraining order to force the county to turn over the funds already allocated and to prevent the execution or renewal of any contracts that finance deportation defense or immigration-related legal services.

The request aims to completely freeze the program while the case is resolved in court, which could leave hundreds of immigrants without legal representation during their immigration proceedings.

A Key County on Texas’s Political Map

Bexar County is the fourth most populous county in Texas, with approximately two million residents, and includes the city of San Antonio.

Its demographic and political weight makes this case a reference point for other local governments that have promoted similar policies.

A Precedent That Complicates the State’s Strategy

This is not the first time Paxton has attempted to block such initiatives. The attorney general previously sought to stop funds aimed at helping immigrants in Harris County, but lost that legal battle after a judge dismissed the case.

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Even so, the new lawsuit suggests that Texas will continue applying judicial pressure on counties that, in the state’s view, “help” undocumented immigrants using public resources.

SOURCE: EFE