Abbott faces GOP questions on refugees

In the days after Gov. Greg Abbott decided to bar refugee admissions to Texas this year, he was buffeted by criticism from religious leaders, refugee advocates and many Democrats.

Few Republicans, meanwhile, publicly came to his defense. And a few have criticized the move, even as a federal judge blocked a Trump administration rule that gave state and local officials the power to deny refugee admissions. Abbott is the only governor to halt refugee resettlement, citing the strain on state resources from illegal immigration.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Wednesday he "can understand why" Abbott made the decision.

"The federal government has failed to provide the support that is needed on a bipartisan basis to deal with this international crisis," he said.

"It's not my choice to make," the senator added in a call with Texas reporters. "I may have a private conversation with the governor on that. I think legal immigration is a good thing."

When asked what that conversation would address, Cornyn said he'd like "to get more detail on (Abbott's) thought process."

U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, said he also shared Abbott’s concerns about “our broken immigration system,” but came to a different conclusion on refugees.

"This decision affects refugees not asylum seekers nor migrants illegally crossing our border. Refugees, many of whom are persecuted Christians, have gone through a strict three-year vetting process by the U.N., State Department and Department of Homeland Security and have been determined to be coming to the United States for the right reasons, and I support giving them the opportunity to thrive in a free and prosperous nation," Hurd told the American-Statesman

And state Rep. Sarah Davis, R-Houston, told the Statesman, “I strongly disagree with his decision.” Davis has differed with Abbott on allowing the governor to appoint high-dollar donors to serve on state boards, among other things, and two years ago Abbott supported her primary opponent.

She pointed to a piece by a Houston Chronicle columnist that called the decision out of touch with Texas values.

Muted reaction

The Statesman surveyed all state elected Republicans, excluding judges and railroad commissioners, on Abbott’s refugee decision, and only a handful responded.

Among them were Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton, who said they supported Abbott’s move.

"I support Gov. Abbott's decision to opt out of any further refugee resettlement in Texas for this upcoming year. Texas has already done more than our fair share of helping those in the refugee program. It's time for other states to step up as we have to help," Patrick said in a statement.

Some cited strains on schools and social services to support people already here.

“Texas has done more than any other state, more than our share,” said state Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson, R-Waco. “It’s time we take a Texas-first agenda. Folks we have here currently, a lot of them need assistance, and there’s a finite amount of resources, tax dollars and time to take care of indigents. We don’t need to overtax our system, taking in more refugees. I wholeheartedly agree with the governor.”

Refugee advocates point out that Texas stands to lose an estimated $17 million in federal money to support refugees who have resettled in the state. Historically, Texas has welcomed more refugees than any other state.

Political peril

For some Republicans, taking a stand on Abbott’s decision, announced last Friday in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, presents some political peril in an election year. The decision can play well in the GOP primary, but not as well in battleground districts come November.

“If you’re a Republican candidate in 2020 with Donald Trump at the top of the ballot, for the most part — and there are some exceptions — this is not going to cause you any problems, particularly at primary time,” said Jim Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas.

At the same time, he said: “If you’re a candidate, there’s not much of an upside to raising your hand ahead of the general election, but instead let this circulate in Republican circles. The two most well-known Republicans in your state, the governor and president, are on the same side of the issue. You don’t have to say you agree with it: They’re sharing the same jersey as you are.”

Polling shows Texans are divided along party lines on issues of legal immigration.

Asked in October 2019 whether the U.S. allows too many, too few, or the right number of legal immigrants into the country, 59% of Republicans in Texas said that the U.S. allows too many, compared with 22% of Democrats, according to polling by UT and the Texas Tribune.

In the same poll, 67 percent of Republicans — and 21 percent of Democrats — said that newcomers “threaten traditional American customs and values.” By contrast, 16 percent of Republicans — and 64 percent of Democrats — said newcomers “strengthen American society.”