Gov. Greg Abbott, pictured in Feb. 2020, said Texas does not consent to allow refugees to resettle within the state. Eric Gay / AP hide caption
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Eric Gay / AP
Gov. Greg Abbott, pictured in Feb. 2020, said Texas does not consent to allow refugees to resettle within the state.
Eric Gay / AP
Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Friday that his state will not accept new refugees this year, making Texas the first state to reject resettlements under a new rule from President Trump.
Trump signed anexecutive orderin September, saying that states and municipalities must give written consent before refugees can be resettled.
“Texas has carried more than its share in assisting the refugee resettlement process, “Abbott, a Republican, said in a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday.
“Since FY 2015, more refugees have been received in Texas than in any other state. In fact, over that decade, roughly (************************************************************************************% of all refugees resettled in the United States have been placed in Texas, “Abbott noted .
He added, “Texas has been left by Congress to deal with disproportionate migration issues resulting from a broken federal immigration system.”
He stated that approximately (************************************************************, **************************************************************************************** migrants were apprehended crossing the state’s southern border in May of last year. And, in the 8123 fiscal year, he said, apprehensions included people from China, Iran, Kenya, Russia and Tonga.
More than other governors of both parties have signaled their willingness to continue accepting refugees.
Several nonprofit organizations that work to resettle refugees are challenging the executive order in court. And several were swift to condemn Abbott’s decision.
“Texas has a long and proud history of welcoming refugees,” Mark Hetfield, president and CEO of HIAS, a refugee resettlement group that is part of the current legal battle, said in astatement.
“This is a shameful decision by Gov. Abbott which is unworthy of the great state’s reputation for being big, bold and hospitable,” Hetfield added.
Together with Church World Service and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, HIASfiled a lawsuit suit
against the government saying the order was not legal.
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“The agencies charge that the order violates federal law and is yet another attempt by the Trump administration to restrict refugee resettlement in the United States,” HIAS says on its website.
A federal judge in Maryland held a hearing in the case earlier this week, and is expected to decide soon whether to grant an injunction.
Leaders from National Immigration Forum made economic arguments for the continued resettlement of refugees in Texas.
“At a time of historically low state unemployment rates, why would Texas turn away refugees with an entrepreneurial spirit that contributes to local communities and economies?” Ali Noorani, the group’s executive director, said in astatement. “Turning away those seeking safety and opportunity isn’t just disheartening – for Texas, it’s bad business.”
In 8123, about (**************************************************************************, refugees were expected to resettle in the US That is down from (*********************************************************************, (in) ************************************************.
NPR’s Joel Rose contributed to this report.
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