Texas AG Weekly Roundup: Lawsuit filed defending states against shocking costs of illegal immigration

Staff Report

The responsibilities, of the Office of the Attorney General, are to serve as legal counsel to all boards and agencies of state government, issue legal opinions when requested by the Governor, heads of state agencies, and other officials and agencies as provided by Texas statutes.

The Texas AG sits as an ex-officio member of state committees and commissions and defends challenges to state laws and suits against both state agencies and individual employees of the State.

Many Texans look to the Office of the Attorney General for guidance with disputes and legal issues. The agency receives hundreds of letters, phone calls, and visits each week about crime victims’ compensation, child support, abuse in nursing homes, possible consumer fraud, and other topics.

To find out more about the Texas Attorney General, visit the official website at https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/.

AG Paxton: Illegal Immigration Costs Texas Taxpayers Over $850 Million Each Year

AUSTIN – As the border crisis caused by President Biden’s policies surges illegal immigration and escalates criminal activity, Attorney General Ken Paxton stands committed to upholding the law and protecting Texans.

In his January lawsuit that halted the Biden administration’s unlawful 100-day freeze on deportations, Attorney General Paxton uncovered hundreds of millions of dollars that Texas taxpayers involuntarily spent on illegal aliens every year: 

• Texans pay between $579 million and $717 million each year for public hospital districts to provide uncompensated care for illegal aliens. 
• Texans paid $152 million to house illegal criminal aliens for just one year. 
• Texans pay between $62 million and $90 million to include illegal aliens in the state Emergency Medicaid program.
• Texans paid more than $1 million for The Family Violence Program to provide services to illegal aliens for one year. 
• Texans pay between $30 million and $38 million per year on perinatal coverage for illegal aliens through the Children’s Health Insurance Program. 
• Texans pay between $31 million and $63 million to educate unaccompanied alien children each year. 

“Texans are hardworking and generous people, but the cost of illegal immigration is an unconscionable burden on the taxpayers of our great state. If we use the minimum estimated costs for services Texas provides to unlawfully present and undocumented aliens, taxpayers are shelling out an estimated $855 million every year,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Texas will always welcome those who legally immigrate, but we cannot continue forcing taxpayers to foot the bill for individuals who skirt the law and skip the line. I will continue to fight for justice, safety, and prosperity for all Texans.”

AG Paxton Files Lawsuit Defending States Against Shocking Costs of Illegal Immigration

AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton led a 14-state coalition before the United States Supreme Court in defense of the “public charge” rule, a federal law prohibiting immigration by aliens who are likely to rely on taxpayer-funded government programs.

Previously, an Illinois county and a left-wing non-profit sued the Trump Administration, challenging the public-charge rule, and the court blocked its enforcement.

The United States Supreme Court agreed to hear a case regarding the rule, but President Biden refused to defend.

Texas sought to defend the rule in the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and was denied. Subsequently, Texas filed this lawsuit with the Supreme Court.

“Texas taxpayers are forced to pay hundreds of millions of dollars every year to sustain the services our state must provide to illegal aliens. Without the public-charge rule, our Medicaid budget and other vital services will explode and be spread too thin, costing taxpayers millions more and reducing the quality of service we can provide,” said Attorney General Paxton. “President Biden failed to work through the administrative rule-making process and left Texas, along with our neighboring states, vulnerable. This is a shameless attempt to unravel common-sense immigration policies favored by a strong majority of Texans, and it cannot stand.”

Read a copy of the filing here.  

AG Paxton’s Law Enforcement Round-Up

The Fugitive Apprehension Unit made several noteworthy arrests last week.

Galveston County
Todd Francis Swartz was arrested in Galveston on March 19. Swartz had an outstanding warrant for Continued Sexual Abuse of a Child, issued by the Galveston County Justice of the Peace (Precinct 2). Swartz attempted to flee the state to avoid prosecution at the time of his arrest. The Unit made the arrest while working with the Gulf Coast Violent Offender Task Force.

Smith County
Tomas DeJesus Cardona was arrested in Flint on March 23. Cardona had an outstanding warrant for Aggravated Kidnapping Bodily Injury/Sexual Assault issued by the Longview Police Department. The Unit made this arrest while working with the Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force, Texas Anti-Gang personnel, Smith County Sheriff’s Office K-9-Unit, and the Longview Police Department Narcotics Unit.

Bell County
Marcus Lynell Earls was arrested in Temple on March 24. Earls had outstanding warrants for six counts of Indecency with Child Sexual Contact and one count of Aggravated Sexual Assault issued by the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office. This case originated in Houston and investigative leads traced Earls to the Central Texas area. The Austin Fugitive Unit followed up on the request for assistance, which led law enforcement to several counties, including Williamson and Bell. After a collaborative effort by both Units, Earls was arrested without incident.

Bexar County
Charly Angel Carillo-Torres was arrested in Live Oak on March 24. Carillo-Torres had outstanding warrants issued by the Brownsville Police Department for Capital Murder, Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, and Burglary of Habitation with Intent to Commit Other Felonies. The Unit made this arrest while working with the United States Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in San Antonio.

Denton County
Luis Juarez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested in Flower Mound on March 24. Juarez had an outstanding warrant for two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child issued by the Little Elm Police Department.

The Unit coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) to place an immigration detainer on the suspect based on the violent charges and suspect history within the states. ICE will file the immigration detainer for deportation. 

AG Paxton Commends Fifth Circuit for Upholding the TDCJ’s COVID-19 Safety Measures

AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton commended the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for ruling in favor of the COVID-19 protective measures implemented by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).

TDCJ acted promptly and reasonably to combat this virus by relying on the advice of medical professionals, and Attorney General Paxton credits the Fifth Circuit for recognizing the protective actions taken by TDCJ.

“TDCJ took extraordinary measures to protect inmates and staff from COVID-19. I applaud them for their extensive efforts to safeguard inmates’ health and safety, and I commend the court for recognizing the efficiency of their protocols and the need for flexibility to address changes in our understanding of this virus,” said Attorney General Paxton. “In light of this global pandemic, I will ensure that Texas will continue to lawfully and professionally implement health safety procedures for those at risk and reliant on the state.”

Read a copy of the judgment here.
Read a copy of the opinion here.

AG Paxton: Claim Deadline Set for Metals.com, Tower Equity, Chase Metals, and Barrick Capital

AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, along with other state regulators and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, recently filed a joint civil enforcement action against Metals.com, Tower Equity, Chase Metals, Barrick Capital, and other associated parties for perpetrating a fraudulent precious metals investment scheme. This case allegedly involves 1,600 investors and more than $185 million in customer funds.

“My office is fiercely committed to holding fraudsters accountable and pursuing relief and recovery for victims of illegal scams. I will not stand by as companies use deceptive tactics to siphon cash from hardworking Texans,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Texans who were lied to deserve justice, and they deserve recuperation.”

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas appointed a Receiver to begin administering the claims process and to distribute the remaining money to defrauded clients.

As part of the process, the Receiver will send correspondence, instructions, and a claims form. Defrauded clients must complete and return their claims forms to the Receiver to participate in the claims process and request a return of the remaining, available money. The deadline to return the claim form is April 30, 2021.

Defrauded clients should direct their questions to the Receiver, Kelly Crawford via email at kelly.crawford@solidcounsel.com or by calling 214-706-4213. For more information about the claims process please visit www.metalsandbarrickcapitalreceivership.com.

The Office of the Texas Attorney General can be reached by calling the Constituent Affairs Division at (512) 463-2100.