U.S. Federal Judge denies Las Americas request to block Texas A.G. from getting documents

UPDATE: Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Guaderrama denied today a request from Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center to block a request to turn over documents to the Texas Attorney General's Office.

Judge Guaderrama denied Las Americas' motion because they didn't satisfy the stringent legal requirements for obtaining a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO).

Court documents show on September 4, 2024, the Texas A.G.'s Office served Las Americas with a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) commanding Las Americas to produce documents by September 27, 2024.

Las Americas sued Ken Paxton's office less than 48 hours before the CID's deadline after the courts had closed for the day.

"The Attorney General’s office claims that it needs these documents to investigate “possible violations” of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices – Consumer Protection Act (“DTPA”), including what the Attorney General characterizes as possible “fraudulent and deceptive legal representations and services," said Guaderrama in his order.

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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center is responding to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to what they call a "baseless investigation against the work of welcome" Paxton's office has conducted against them.

The Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) and Winston & Strawn which represent the nonprofit group filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against the Texas AG's Office as the latest organization in a "string of nonprofits to be investigated by the attorney general" and his newly created "nonprofit enforcement division".

According to a news release posted by Las Americas, the lawsuit asserts the state's investigation against them violates the First Amendment.

"The Attorney General is attempting to restrict Las Americas’ protected speech and work," Las Americas said in a statement.

“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, Executive Director of Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center.

ABC-7 reached out to Las Americas for more comment on this lawsuit against the Texas AG's office, they directed us to the Texas Civil Rights Project law firm because they are not taking any interviews about this topic at this time.

Will have more updates in later newscasts.