(This story has been updated with reaction from the Catholic Charities RGV)
EDINBURG, Texas (Border Report) – A state judge on Wednesday ruled in favor of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, which pushed back against an investigation being brought by the State of Texas against the nonprofit organization that helps migrants.
It was the second ruling this month in favor of a faith-based organization that assists migrants along the Southwest border.
On Wednesday, District Court Judge J.R. “Bobby” Flores denied a petition by the State of Texas ordering Catholic Charities RGV to sit for a sworn deposition as the state attempts to gather information and evidence against the organization.
"The Court is of the opinion the Petition should be DENIED," according to an order signed Wednesday by Flores.
The ruling was posted on the Hidalgo County website shortly after 2:30 p.m. CDT.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has alleged that Catholic Charities has participated in human trafficking at its facilities.
"We hope that we can put this behind us and focus our efforts on protecting and upholding the sanctity and dignity of all human lives while following the law," Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic Charities RGV, said in a statement after the ruling.
Paxton on June 5 filed a motion seeking to force representatives from the nonprofit to sit for depositions. But the faith-based group argued last week before Flores that the state does not have the power to compel the testimony.
The organization said Wednesday that compelling the faith-based group to sit for a deposition would have been "distracting" from its work and service. "A deposition would have been a waste of time," the group said in a statement.
“The Petition represents a fishing expedition into a pond where no one has ever seen a fish,” Catholic Charities stated in a response filed with the court on July 3.
During a July 17 hearing, Catholic Charities pushed back against the state, saying it has already submitted over 100 pages of documents to the State of Texas to aid in its investigation.
Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic Charities RGV, told the Associated Press after the July 17 hearing: “The small staff at Catholic Charities works tirelessly around the clock to serve needy people throughout our communities.”
Catholic Charities RGV runs the Humanitarian Respite Center in downtown McAllen, Texas, which has assisted over 500,000 immigrants since it began operations in 2014.
“It is a very important way to show how a community comes together to make a difference when we see something – there’s a need in our community – and we work together from the law enforcement to the churches to the people – everybody,” Pimentel told Border Report on June 4 as the organization celebrated its 10th year operating the Humanitarian Respite Center. “Families that were suffering, we saw them here at our own bus station and we came together without reservations.”
The facility offers food, toiletries, shelter, clothing and travel advise to migrants who have legally been released by the Department of Homeland Security after being processed by officers after coming across the U.S. border.
Attorneys for the state told Flores on July 17 that a deposition could assist the state in determining whether to sue Catholic Charities RGV.
Paxton’s office sued the Annunciation House, a migrant shelter network in El Paso, and tried to shut it down. But a judge ruled earlier this month against the state and blasted Paxton, accusing the Republican of “outrageous” conduct over claims that the facility encourages migrants to illegally enter the United States.
Paxton says they are appealing that ruling.
“For too long, Annunciation House has flouted the law and contributed to the worsening illegal immigration crisis at Texas’s border with Mexico,” Paxton said. “I am appealing this case and will continue to vigorously enforce the law against any NGO engaging in criminal conduct.”
Team Brownsville is another Rio Grande Valley organization that helps migrants and also has been approached by Paxton for information in recent months.
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.
