Members of the Austin City Council will vote Thursday on a proposed increase in taxpayer funding to organizations that represent illegal aliens.
According to the meeting agenda for September 24, the council members will consider approving additional funding to two local organizations, American Gateways and Catholic Charities of Central Texas, to provide legal representation for illegal aliens.
Both currently receive significant funding from the city of Austin.
American Gateways’ website says that it has “served the Central Texas immigrant community since 1987” and began as a group of volunteers to serve the increase of refugees fleeing from war in Central America. The organization has since “grown to provide a broad range of immigration legal services to low-income individuals and families throughout the region.”
The Austin City Council is seeking to “authorize negotiation and execution” agreements with American Gateways that provide “legal pro se assistance for individuals representing themselves in court residing in Austin and Travis County” and “legal services.” This entails extending agreements for both pro se assistance and legal services by 12 months and providing additional funding.
Both agreements are currently set to end September 30, 2027.
Between the two programs, the proposed increase totals more than $499,000, bringing the total “not to exceed” funding amount to more than $4 million.
Funding is provided for the programs through the Austin Public Health budget.
The organization’s Pro Se Assistance Program offers both in-court services at San Antonio’s Immigration Court and free monthly legal clinics, which cover topics such as navigating legal defenses against deportation, “information on post-release reporting requirements and participation in the Alternatives-to-Detention program,” and how to prepare for hearings.
American Gateways also joined a case challenging Texas’ Senate Bill 4 from 2023, which creates state-level criminal penalties for illegal entry into Texas and gives state and local law enforcement a direct role in immigration enforcement.
Following the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision to vacate a lower court injunction that had blocked the law, American Gateways’ co-executive director, Edna Yang, made a statement along with other plaintiffs against the court’s ruling.
“We are alarmed by the Fifth Circuit’s decision to allow S.B. 4 to move forward, leaving immigrant families across Texas to live in fear of a law that a prior panel rightly found unconstitutional,” said Yang “This ruling is a setback, not the final word, and we remain committed to fighting this dangerous law at every turn.”
City council members are also considering approving additional funding and a 12-month agreement extension with Catholic Charities of Central Texas to “expand legal and counseling services” and “provide legal filing fee assistance in Austin and Travis County.”
Both agreements are set to end September 30, 2027.
Between the two programs, the council is proposing an increase in funding of more than $315,000, bringing the total “not to exceed” funding amount to more than $2.6 million.
Catholic Charities, founded in 1999, offers services such as “family-based immigration legal services,” deferred action for childhood arrivals, and presentations on immigration laws and issues.
The organization’s website explains that it is experiencing a backlog “of requests for immigration legal consultations,” and provides a list of recommended immigration lawyers, other organizations, and resources. The list includes American Gateways.
Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Harris County last November for providing $1.3 million for legal defense services for illegal aliens. Paxton’s filing argued that the funding did not provide any public benefit or consideration for Harris County.
House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R–Lubbock) reacted to the Austin City Council’s plans on X, noting that this is something the legislature intends to look at before the next legislative session.
“The Texas Legislature has increased property tax exemptions for families and small businesses, but when local governments turn around and hike taxes to pay for non-essential expenditures, it undermines the progress we’ve made. And Texans are left with the burden,” wrote Burrows.
He added that the House Select Committee on Governmental Oversight is set to look at he misuse of taxpayer money at the local level and discuss ways to strengthen oversight, promote local fiscal responsibility and better protect Texans’ pocketbooks” on September 30.
