Judge Francisco Dominguez ruled on July 2 that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, representing the state of Texas, “failed to establish probable grounds to close Annunciation House,” a shelter in El Paso, TX that has been operating since 1978. Judge Dominguez also ruled that Texas violated the shelter’s constitutional rights by demanding records for migrants the shelter has served.

The judge wrote that AG Paxton was using the request for documents to justify his harassment of Annunciation House’s staff as well as people seeking refuge there. Paxton failed to identify which laws Annunciation House had violated and, “In fact, the record before the Court now establishes that the Attorney General was seeking evidence of alleged criminal activity all along,” Dominguez continued.

In other words, rather than having evidence of Annunciation House having committed a crime or crimes, Paxton was on a witch hunt hoping to find a crime that had been committed. Dominguez rightly called Paxton’s actions “outrageous and intolerable.”

Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso described the ruling as “an important moment for religious freedom.”

Ruben Garcia, founder and director of Annunciation House, said that he hopes this will bring an end to Texas’ attempt to shut down the shelter, but he doubts it, expecting the state to appeal the decision. “In my heart of hearts,” Ruben said, “I would hope … that this truly would be a determining action and that this would bring it to an end. That’s my hope, that would be my prayer. I’m realistic enough to know it probably won’t end here and for that I’m very sorry.”

The Catholic Church is not in the business of deciding who is worthy and who is not worthy of assistance. Part of the Church’s mission to assist those in need, regardless of their status as legal or illegal immigrants, and regardless of faith, race, gender, nationality, etc. There is no expectation that the Church’s ministers will interrogate those who come to them for help to determine their worthiness. That is not the way of Christ.

Let’s be clear: nations have a right to secure their borders. President Joe Biden’s open border policy has been a disaster for this country and needs to be stopped immediately. There are legitimate paths to entering the United States, and those paths need to be used by those who wish to enter, and reformed so that it will be easier for those seeking refuge from terror, unjust governments, or economic hardship to enter. But so long as the United States has a policy of open borders, that policy will attract people who are desperate, and those attracted will be in the millions. You can’t tell me that the few hundred people that Annunciation House assists every year is having much of a dent in the border crisis. The people are coming. So long as they are coming, the Catholic Church needs to be at the forefront of aiding those who need aid. It’s that simple. If you are Catholic and you don’t get that, I recommend that you re-read the Gospels.

Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all.