Texas governor to reject new refugees, first under Trump

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to fellow state officials and media following a video...
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to fellow state officials and media following a video teleconference briefing on the 2018 hurricane season hosted by President Donald Trump, Wednesday, June 6, 2018, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)(GIM)
Published: Jan. 10, 2020 at 3:49 PM CST
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says the state will reject the resettlement of new refugees, becoming the first state known to do so under a recent Trump administration order.

In a letter released Friday, Abbott wrote that Texas “has been left by Congress to deal with disproportionate migration issues resulting from a broken federal immigration system.”

He added that Texas, which typically takes in thousands of refugees each year, has done "more than its share.”

Governors in 42 other states have said they will consent to allowing in more refugees, according to the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.

In November, President Donald Trump announced that resettlement agencies needed to get written consent from state and local officials in jurisdictions where they want to help resettle refugees beyond June 2020.

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