No Borders NewsThe Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) says the Texas Supreme Court has issued a temporary order blocking Harris County’s Immigrant Legal Defense Fund (ILSF). ILRC describes the fund as a key source of free legal help for Harris County residents facing deportation proceedings while in immigration detention.
ILRC reports that the ILSF has been operating since 2020 and is currently funded at about $1.3 million, but the court’s action has put the money “in limbo.” ILRC says the effect is that people who need representation in immigration court may have to proceed without an attorney.
ILRC also points to a broader dispute over whether Harris County could create the fund. According to ILRC, the Texas Attorney has targeted the ILSF with claims that ILRC calls baseless, and ILRC says prior courts that reviewed the merits ruled in favor of the county.
ILRC argues that access to lawyers matters for due process and for outcomes in deportation cases. It cites a claim that, in Houston, people with legal representation are nearly ten times more likely to win than those representing themselves.
ILRC says it will continue working to support the fund and protect due process rights for people in immigration proceedings. For the most accurate details on the court order and what happens next, readers may want to check the official Texas Supreme Court decision and related filings linked from the ILRC page.