Texas is taking a stand against the resettlement of Muslims from the Middle East in the Lone Star State by the Obama administration. Just this week, it was discovered that several in the state government have refused to resettle refugees from the Middle East until those in central government in Washington can guarantee they are not a security threat.
The Houston Chronicle reports:
A two-page letter from Charles Smith, executive commissioner of the state Health and Human Services Commission, dated Monday advises the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement of the state’s decision not to allow additional refugee resettlements “without assurances from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security and the Director of Nati0nal Intelligence that the refugees do not pose a security threat to our citizens.”
State officials have given no indication how they would block the arrival of new refugees if the federal government ignores their demands.
“We remain willing to place refugees in Texas with the strict contingency that you and other specified federal security officials provide certification that each refugee does not pose a security threat,” Smith said in the letter to Robert Carey, director of the federal resettlement agency.
“Given your proclaimed confidence in your protocols, this appears to be a reasonable request. The State of Texas does not oppose the resettlement of all refugees, but we believe we are justified in our objection to the unmitigated placement of refugees from Syria and countries known to be supporters or propagators of terrorism.”
A 31-page plan that lists the criteria for which refugees would be accepted was also submitted along with the letter. It requires that Homeland Security screen every refugee and that “the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall take all actions necessary to ensure that each potential refugee receives a background investigation and ensure that the potential refugee is not a security threat before U.S. refugee admission.”
In addition to Homeland Security vetting each refugee, the National Intelligence Director would have to sign off on the vetted refugees.
So, what’s the problem? Seems simple enough, but consider that this the same Homeland Security that was invented during the George W. Bush era and is completely unconstitutional and acts unconstitutionally. Just look at what the Border Patrol does or the TSA does in violation of the US Constitution. Or consider that Homeland Security’s TSA could not even properly vet their own employees and hired 73 workers who were on Terror Watch lists.
As for Texas, they seem adamant in at least attempting to protect the people of the state.
Governor Greg Abbott’s press secretary, John Wittman said that he supports the letter and the plan and said, “We’re going to let the letter speak for itself, and not comment further.”
