150+ Organizations Stand in Solidarity with Annunciation House and Denounce Texas’ Attacks on Humanitarian Aid
On Tuesday, February 20, 2024 Texas Attorney General Paxton launched a politically motivated attack against Annunciation House, a volunteer organization that offers hospitality to migrants, immigrants, and refugees in El Paso, Texas. Annunciation House is rooted in Catholic social teaching and is a voice for justice and compassion, especially for the most marginalized of our society.
We, the undersigned 153 organizations, faith and community leaders, and individuals as one united front;
- Express our solidarity and full support to Annunciation House, which for 45 years has been a beacon of hope to the most vulnerable and a model of compassion, humanity, and kindness, exemplifying what our local, state, and federal governments ought to do. The work of Annunciation House is legal and constitutionally framed. Most importantly, this work is humanitarian, vital, and necessary to border communities like El Paso.
- Denounce the actions of the Texas Attorney General and expose them as an extension of the continuous anti-immigrant crusade that Gov. Abbott and extremist legislators have crafted under the unconstitutional Operation Lone Star and illegal Senate Bill 4. This lawsuit is a political attack that only seeks to institute fear and criminalize those who have been defending constitutional and human rights and immigrant communities.
- Denounce the Texas State government’s continuous usurpation of Federal authority to create its own xenophobic, racist, and white supremacist immigration policies. This lawsuit is an escalation of Gov. Abbott’s unconstitutional policies and ill-conceived structures to prosecute immigrant families, friends, and networks of support.
- Demand action from the U.S. Department of Justice to halt the ongoing usurpation of Federal powers in Texas by Gov. Abbott and place the necessary protections to guarantee that all non-governmental organizations (NGOs), humanitarian aid providers, and shelters can work freely, independently, safe from fear, retaliation or intimidation from Texas government leaders and entities.
- Demand that the City of El Paso immediately terminate all Operation Lone Star’s Emergency and Disaster Declarations and cut any ties with Gov. Abbott’s anti-immigrant, xenophobic, racist, and unconstitutional border enforcement policies.
For far too long, border communities have witnessed firsthand the fallout of our broken and inhumane immigration system fueled by our federal and state governments’ inaction in supporting non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other entities who stand ready to welcome migrants and asylum seekers with dignity.
Instead of fueling hate and fear, Gov. Abbott, Attorney General Paxton, and our legislators must work to make institutions work better on behalf of Texan communities, ensure the safety of our communities, and guarantee our rights are respected and protected. We will not be intimidated and will not cease providing the much-needed humanitarian support to immigrant and refugee communities.
Signed,
Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR)
Frontera Texas Organizing Project
Reform Immigration for Texas Alliance (RITA)
Paso del Norte Coalition for Immigrant Rights
Woori Juntos
Iglesia San Lucas
Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center
Prince of Peace Christian Fellowship
America’s Voice
Voces Unidas RGV
Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center
ARISE Adelante
Deaconess and Home Missioners for Immigrants Justice
Latin America Solidarity Committee
The Sidewalk School
Witness at the Border
Del Camino Jesuit Border Ministries
Border Workers United
Kino Border Initiative
National Lawyers Guild-Task Force on the Americas
Refugees International
Laredo Immigrant Alliance
South Texas Human Rights Center
Border Vigil of Eagle Pass
Familias Triunfadoras Inc
Every Texan
Pax Christi New Jersey
Team Brownsville
Pax Christi USA
Presente.org
First Friends of New Jersey & New York
Pax Christi Little Rock
Office of Peace, Justice, and Ecological Integrity/Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
Community Member and Texas Voter
First Universalist Church of Denver, Racial Justice Task Forcw
Angry Tias and Abuelas of the RGV
Pax Christi USA
MOVE Texas
Close The Camps NJ
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
La Unión del Pueblo Entero-LUPE
Sisters of Saint Joseph Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA
Office of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation- Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth
Estrella del Paso (Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services, Inc.)
American Friends Service Committee
Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC)
American Friends Service Committee, Colorado
Border Agricultural Workers Project
Unidad Latina en Acción NJ
Services Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN)
Never Again Action Boston
Immigration Hub
National Immigration Law Center
B’nai Jacob Synagogue
Grassroots Leadership
Faith Commons
HIAS
Arapaho United Methodist Church
Quality Training Services
Department of Social & Environmental Justice, Congregation of St. Joseph
Congregation Ner Tamid
Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice
Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC)
Midway Hills Christian Church
Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter
Eagle Pass Border Coalition
First Friends of NJ & NY
RocUbuntu
Escucha Mi Voz Iowa
Iowa City Catholic Worker
Temple Beth-El
Judea Reform Congregation
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team
RJCL Services
Ciudad Nueva Community Outreach
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
JCC Harlem
Emerita, Temple Beth El
Human Rights First
Temple Emanu-El Dallas, TX
Faithful America
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
RWM consultants
Somos Tejas
Never Again Action
Isaac M Wise Temple
New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice
The Interfaith Center of New York
Project Regeneracion
Centro por la Justicia (Southwest Workers Union)
BNHR Human Rights Center Del Rio, TX
Borderlands Resource Initiative
Washington Office on Latin America
Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace
Resilient Advocates Collective
Loretto Community Latin America/Caribbean Committee
Alianza Americas
LaUnidad11
BNHR Human Rights Center Presidio, TX
New Mexico Dream Team
Lawyers for Good Government
First United Methodist Church Cedar Hill
Bridges Faith Initiative
Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice
Hope Border Institute
Texas Civil Rights Project
Loretto Link
National Partnership for New Americans
Northern New Jersey Sanctuary Coalition
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC
Franciscan Network for Migrants-U.S.
Familias Unidas del Chamizal
Justice in Motion
International Valley Health Institute
Pax Christi Michigan
Social Justice Resource Center
Frontera de Cristo
Ouisa D. Davis, Attorney & Counselor at Law
Global Refuge
Acequia Architects
The Miami Chelo Foundation
Northern New Jersey Sanctuary Coalition
Faith Commons
Laredo for Economic Justice
Poder Latinx
School Sisters Of St Francis -JPIC Committee
National Lawyers Guild – El Paso Chapter
Southern Border Communities Coalition
Rabbi Amy Joy Small- Retired Rabbi
The American National Catholic Church
Most Rev. George Lucey, Presiding Bishop
Rabbi E. David Curiel
Rabbi Pamela Wax
Rabbi Eytan Hammerman
Fr Bert Chilson, Retired Priest – Archdiocese of Denver
Connie Crawford, Retired Attorney
UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza)
Central American Resource Center – CARECEN
HOLA Ohio
Or Hadash: a Reconstructionist Congregation
El Paso Grassroots
Arkansas Coalition for Peace and Justice
Project BRAVO
El Paso (TX) Chapter, The Links, Incorporated
Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants, Inc.
Sisters of Loretto/Loretto Community
Puentes de Cristo, Inc.
Texas Rising El Paso