FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2024
Contact:
Texas Civil Rights Project, media@texascivilrightsproject.org
Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, media@las-americas.org
Winston & Strawn, MTortorici@winston.com
Texas Civil Rights Project and law firm Winston & Strawn represent humanitarian nonprofit group, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, in challenging baseless Attorney General Investigation
EL PASO, TEXAS - Last night, the Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) and Winston & Strawn filed a lawsuit representing Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, the latest organization in a string of nonprofits to be investigated by the Attorney General and his newly created “Nonprofit Enforcement Division.” The lawsuit asserts the state’s investigation of Las Americas violates the First Amendment because the Attorney General is attempting to restrict Las Americas’ protected speech and work. View the filing here. The lawsuit requests a temporary restraining order (TRO) to block the investigation.
“Las Americas has been serving the communities of El Paso, New Mexico, and Ciudad Juárez for over 37 years. Whether it's assisting immigrant families and individuals seeking immigration relief and pathways or reuniting a mother who was separated from her three-year-old because of cruel anti-immigrant policies, we accompany the most vulnerable on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border. The Attorney General’s attack against this work is troubling. We look forward to working with the Texas Civil Rights Project and Winston & Strawn to protect our right to serve immigrant families and the state of Texas,” said Marisa Limón Garza (she/her), Executive Director of Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center.
Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center is a bi-national nonprofit organization based in El Paso, Texas, dedicated to serving the legal needs of low-income immigrants, including asylum seekers. The organization supports people living in the El Paso region, people seeking safety at our borders by assisting in petitioning the government for relief and conducting Know Your Rights presentations and individuals impacted by the U.S. deportation and detention system in New Mexico. The unsubstantiated investigation launched by the Attorney General misuses provisions of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, in an attempt to force Las Americas to turn over privileged, private, and confidential client documents.
“We’re witnessing a disturbing pattern in Texas in which immigrant legal services and voting rights are under a coordinated siege by the Attorney General under the guise of protecting voter integrity. These actions are perpetuating a dangerous anti-immigrant narrative that is having a direct impact on Latino communities across our state ahead of a federal election cycle, threatening the power of our collective voice as Texans. We will not sit idly by as our elected leaders abuse their power to silence Texan voices. Texas Civil Rights Project stands with the impacted organizations and will continue to fight alongside our most vulnerable communities in and out of the courts,” said Rochelle Garza (she/her), President of the Texas Civil Rights Project.
“Las Americas provides vital humanitarian services to a vulnerable community on a daily basis. Those efforts should not be interrupted or intimidated by an improper, and politically motivated, use by the Attorney General of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, a law designed primarily to protect Texas consumers from fraudulent or misleading business practices. Mr. Paxton should use that law to protect Texas consumers, not bully the vulnerable,” said Tom Melsheimer, Litigation Department Co-Chair, Winston & Strawn.
This investigation follows similar attempts by the Attorney General to investigate and shut down humanitarian organizations that provide shelter, food, clothing, and other resources to people seeking safety at the Texas border.
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The Texas Civil Rights Project is boldly serving the movement for equality and justice in and out of the courts. We use our tools of litigation and legal advocacy to protect and advance the civil rights of everyone in Texas, and we partner with communities across the state to serve the rising movement for social justice. We undertake our work with a vision of a Texas in which all communities can thrive with dignity, justice and without fear.
About Winston & Strawn
Winston & Strawn LLP is an international law firm with 15 offices in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. More information about the firm is available at www.winston.com.
Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit providing high-quality legal services to low-income immigrants. Since its founding in 1987, Las Americas has served close to 50,000 persons, with a strong focus on women, children, families, the LGBTQ community, and asylum seekers.
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