Located in the heart of El Paso, Texas, the Annunciation House has been providing shelter and sustenance to impoverished migrants for over 50 years. At this network of shelters, prayer is prioritized as an essential component of daily life.
A group of families with children, seeking shelter at one of the Catholic charity’s shelters, gathered for a prayer before relishing the delicious meals prepared by a team of American volunteers. Expressing gratitude to God for the food, the migrants also prayed for the well-being of those who are yet to reach the United States.
Ruben Garcia, the founder and director of the Annunciation House since its establishment in 1978, led the prayer.
According to CBS News, Garcia emphasized that the act of welcoming strangers is a fundamental aspect of various faith traditions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. He stated that while he comes from a Catholic background, the importance of accepting and embracing those who are different transcends any specific denomination. “This isn’t Catholic. This isn’t Lutheran. This isn’t Episcopalian or Methodist or Presbyterian. This is Christian. It is Jewish. It is Muslim,” Garcia said. “Constitutive to each of those faith traditions is ‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me.'”
When migrants cross the southern border near El Paso, they often head straight to the Annunciation House, one of the busiest migration corridors in the U.S. Here, they can find hot meals, fresh clothes, showers, and a place to rest before continuing their journey to larger American cities.
For decades, the Annunciation House has been a beacon of hope for tens of thousands of migrants in need, providing them with a vital lifeline in the United States. In times of increased illegal border crossings, which have plagued both Republican and Democratic administrations, the organization has also played a critical role in helping Border Patrol agents prevent dangerous overcrowding in government facilities.
The Annunciation House, a faith-based organization, is facing a legal battle with the state of Texas that could potentially lead to its closure. This comes at a time of heightened political polarization over U.S. immigration policy, putting the organization in a precarious position.
A “stash house”
In February, the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton initiated a legal battle by demanding documents from Annunciation House. The nonprofit was being investigated and shelter officials were told that if they failed to comply, they would be breaking the law.
After the Annunciation House filed a lawsuit requesting a state judge to halt Texas’ demand for documents, the request was granted. However, Paxton’s office then sought the same judge to completely suspend the operations of the charity, accusing it of violating state laws.
According to a legal filing from Paxton’s office, Annunciation House is involved in systematic conduct that qualifies as illegal alien harboring and the operation of a stash house, which are both felony offenses under the Texas Penal Code.
According to Paxton’s office, they have been monitoring the Annunciation House as part of a larger initiative to uphold a directive issued by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. This directive mandates investigations into organizations that provide aid to migrants. With the current administration facing an unprecedented surge in unlawful border crossings, Republican lawmakers both in Washington and throughout the nation have accused non-governmental organizations of fueling illegal immigration by offering shelter and sustenance to migrants.
According to legal documents filed by Texas officials, the Annunciation House has not only assisted migrants who have been released by federal immigration agents, but also those who have entered the country without being properly processed.
In a recent development, Annunciation House has successfully defended itself against Texas’ request to shut it down. State Judge Francisco Dominguez rejected the plea and even imposed restrictions on any future document requests made by Paxton’s office. In a strongly worded order, Dominguez denounced Paxton’s demand as a mere excuse to harass both the employees of Annunciation House and those seeking refuge.
In his order, Dominguez expressed outrage and intolerance towards Texas officials who failed to disclose their investigation into the charity’s alleged criminal conduct. He noted that the lack of transparency was unacceptable.
Last week, Dominguez was informed by Paxton’s office that it is appealing his orders to the Texas Supreme Court. Despite multiple interview requests and questions regarding the number of migrant services organizations under investigation, there has been no response from Paxton’s office.
Court records indicate that the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, which is one of the primary organizations providing shelter to migrants in the area, is under investigation by the Texas attorney general. Texas had attempted to depose a representative of the group who allegedly facilitated alien crossings over the Texas-Mexico border, but a judge denied the request.
According to Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, Texas’ attempt to gather information on their organization is nothing more than a “phishing expedition.” The charity has already provided documents to Paxton’s office and maintains that it operates within the bounds of all laws while providing services to immigrants. CBS News received a statement from the organization affirming their commitment to assisting immigrants within both the letter and spirit of the law.
The nonprofit has made it clear that it will consistently uphold its legal responsibilities while remaining unwavering in its pursuit of its mission, driven by Sacred Scripture and the Social Teaching of the Catholic Church.
“I think it’s happening because of the politics”
According to Garcia, the director of Annunciation House, their organization’s sole aim is to assist individuals who are in dire need of help.
Garcia believes that the motive behind the state of Texas’ pursuit of an NGO that has always been committed to human rights is purely political. He asserts that there is no valid reason for Texas to go after such an organization.
Wilson Juárez Hernández, a 22-year-old migrant from Guatemala, may be left without a place to stay if Texas succeeds in its attempt to shut down the Annunciation House. After surviving a deadly fire that claimed the lives of 40 migrants at a Mexican immigration detention center in Ciudad Juárez last year, Wilson has been residing at one of the Annunciation House shelters. However, the closure of the shelter could leave him in a state of uncertainty.
In Spanish, Juárez Hernández conveyed to CBS News that numerous friends, many of them young people of a similar age as herself, have passed away.
He pointed out that although he and other migrants were able to survive, not everyone came out of the experience unharmed.
Juárez Hernández was left disabled after inhaling smoke from a fire, which has resulted in him relying on a wheelchair. In order to receive medical treatment, he was granted access into the U.S. Despite requiring assistance for basic functions such as eating, bathing, and dressing, he has been able to receive physical therapy and medical support through the Annunciation House. However, should the House be closed down, Juárez Hernández will have nowhere to turn as he has no family in the U.S.
Juárez Hernández’s future remains uncertain, as it is still unclear if he will be able to walk again. Despite this, he has made incredible progress in learning to perform basic activities such as eating and getting dressed on his own. In addition to these achievements, he is also currently learning English. His lifelong dream of becoming a doctor still burns brightly within him, a passion that has existed since he was just 10 years old.
Juárez Hernández expressed that his favorite word in English is “Happy.” When asked to explain why, he simply stated that it is because he is always happy.
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