Texas’ heart, ability to help are bigger than Gov. Abbott’s decision to bar refugees
Updated at 6:15 p.m. with Catholic Bishop Michael Olson’s statement.
Gov. Greg Abbott, one of the state’s proudest cheerleaders, has found yet another way for Texas to be first in the nation.
But not a good one. Abbott informed the U.S. State Department on Friday that Texas will opt out of accepting international refugees this year, becoming the first governor known to reject resettlement. More than 40 other states have already consented to taking in refugees, and mayors in Fort Worth and other large cities have said they want to continue to welcome those in need.
Abbott has made a mistake, and he should reconsider.
In his letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Republican governor framed his decision as a reaction to last year’s surge of immigrants attempting to enter the U.S. through Texas and the strain it placed on social services.
“Texas continues to have to deal with the consequences of an immigration system that Congress has failed to fix,” Abbott wrote.
That’s certainly true. And he argues that Texas must focus on helping those already here. But the very social service agencies and charities who provide that assistance will tell you that we can still do both.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHey, who writes these editorials?
Editorials are the positions of the Editorial Board, which serves as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s institutional voice. The members of the board are: Cynthia M. Allen, columnist; Steve Coffman, editor and president; Bud Kennedy, columnist; Ryan J. Rusak, opinion editor; and Nicole Russell, editorial writer and columnist. Most editorials are written by Rusak or Russell. Editorials are unsigned because they represent the board’s consensus positions, not the views of individual writers.
Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
How are topics and positions chosen?
The Editorial Board meets regularly to discuss issues in the news and what points should be made in editorials. We strive to build a consensus to produce the strongest editorials possible, but when we differ, we put matters to a vote.
The board aims to be consistent with stances it has taken in the past but usually engages in a fresh discussion based on new developments and different perspectives.
We focus on local and state news, though we will also weigh in on national issues with an eye toward their impact on Texas or the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
How are these different from news articles or signed columns?
News reporters strive to keep their opinions out of what they write. They have no input on the Editorial Board’s stances. The board consults their reporting and expertise but does its own research for editorials.
Signed columns by writers such as Allen, Kennedy and Rusak contain the writer’s personal opinions.
How can I respond to an editorial, suggest a topic or ask a question?
We invite readers to write letters to be considered for publication. The preferred method is an email to letters@star-telegram.com. To suggest a topic or ask a question, please email Rusak directly at rrusak@star-telegram.com.
Besides, the Trump administration has already decided to limit the total number of refugees allowed into the U.S. by the end of the current fiscal year to 18,000, a big cut from previous years.
Even if Texas took a disproportionate share, as Abbott noted it has in years past, it would be a relatively small job for the state.
And it’s important to note that refugee resettlement is separate from the illegal immigration debate. Refugees are screened and come to the U.S. through an extensive legal process.
In a written statement lamenting Abbott’s decision, Fort Worth Catholic Diocese Bishop Michael Olson noted that the governor’s action could ultimately cost social-service groups that work with refugees anyway. When refugees that start in other states eventually move to Texas, groups such as Catholic Charities Fort Worth will have to make up for lost federal funds, he said.
“The responsible assistance of refugees with collaborative oversight between the government and Catholic Charities contributes to the common good and helps to prevent poverty and crime,” Olson said.
On balance, refugees are good for Texas. They tend to be hard-working and entrepreneurial, and end up achieving U.S. citizenship. Given the conditions they’ve had to flee, many become strong evangelists for their new home and the American way of life.
In a letter to Abbott last month, Mayor Betsy Price urged the governor to allow resettlement to continue, noting that almost 2,600 refugees have come to Fort Worth since 2016.
“These refugee families are an important part of the diverse fabric of Fort Worth, and importantly, they become proud residents of Fort Worth and Texas, embodying our trailblazing and tenacious spirit,” the mayor wrote. “Their stories and path to the United States are now an important part of our own story in Fort Worth.”
It’s a shame that the rest of the country will see Abbott’s short-sighted decision and not the open-hearted spirit that Fort Worth and other communities proffered.
This story was originally published January 10, 2020 at 5:06 PM.