Texas Governor Abbot announced in a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Friday that Texas would refuse settling refugees in 2020.
Texas has been the state with the most settled refugees since 2010, and the announcement marks a stark change from previous policy. The governor attributed his decision to over-strained resources:
At this time, the state and non-profit organizations have a responsibility to dedicate available resources to those who are already here, including refugees, migrants, and the homeless—indeed, all Texans. As a result, Texas cannot consent to initial refugee resettlement for FY2020.
