Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Remains Quiet On Whether The State Will Opt Out Of Refugee Program

Style Magazine Newswire | 1/10/2020, 4:09 p.m.
A large majority of the country’s governors have told the Trump administration that their states will continue accepting refugees, but …
Texas Gov Greg Abbott

HoustonPublicMedia.org

A large majority of the country’s governors have told the Trump administration that their states will continue accepting refugees, but with less than three weeks left to make up his mind, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott hasn’t made clear if he’ll add his name to that list. Governors, mayors, county judges and other elected officials have until Jan. 21 to notify the U.S. State Department if they will continue participating in the refugee resettlement program. The deadline comes after a September executive order that requires resettlement agencies to have written consent from states and local entities before they resettle refugees within their boundaries. As of Thursday, 39 governors and 86 mayors and other local authorities had provided consent, according to reports. Abbott has said that he would consider the issue when it “reached his desk.”