Posted on 01/10/2020 1:39:27 PM PST by rhett october
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has told the Trump administration that he doesn't want his state to participate in the federal government's refugee resettlement program, making his state the first to opt out.
On Friday, Abbott told Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that "Texas cannot consent to initial refugee resettlement" for fiscal year 2020, saying that the state already has enough on its plate to deal with.
"In addition to accepting refugees all these years, Texas has been left by Congress to deal with disproportionate migration issues resulting from a broken federal immigration system," Abbot's explains.
Additionally, he wrote that "the state and nonprofit organizations have a responsibility to dedicate available resources to those who are already here, including refugees, migrants and the homeless — indeed, all Texans."
Abbot also said that his decision does not stop any refugees from coming to the United States or stop refugees from later moving to Texas after being first settled in another state.
Under an executive order issued by President Donald Trump last year, states have to affirm in writing that they wish to opt into the federal refugee resettlement program.
The order, which the White House announced in September says that, "with limited exceptions, the Federal Government, as an exercise of its broad discretion concerning refugee placement accorded to it by the Constitution and the Immigration and Nationality Act, should resettle refugees only in those jurisdictions in which both the State and local governments have consented to receive refugees under the Department of State's Reception and Placement Program."
At a rally in Minnesota in October, Trump touted the executive order, telling voters "You should be able to decide what is best for your own cities and for your own neighborhoods, and that's what you have the right to do right now."
(Excerpt) Read more at theblaze.com ...
Good on Abbott!
I am more conservative than most Texans, so I helped to preserve its character. As the saying goes, I wasn’t born here, but I got here as fast as I could.
FYI, my v CC Jewish, Latina wife is a rock-ribbed conservative, as are our 2 kids (one of whom will cast her first votes for Donald Trump .
Please tell everyone in California to STAY HOME!
Don’t California My Texas!
I love your comment!
I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as quickly as as could!
Lived in California 5 times, during job related temporary relocations. Always got back to Texas as quickly as I could!
Too Late.
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