WHARTON JOINS HOUSE REPUBLICANS’ CALL TO PAUSE IMMIGRATION, FULLY FUND DHS AFTER ATTACK IN AUSTIN
State Representative Trey Wharton is one of over 70 Texas House Republicans who are calling upon Congress to pause immigration into the country, freeze the issuance of all H-1B visas and fully fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
speaks during a Legislative Wrap-Up Luncheon in
November at the Blinn College Student Center in
Brenham.
The letter to leaders in U.S. Congress follows a shooting in Austin on March 1st that led to the deaths of three people and 15 others being injured. The FBI is investigating the attack as a possible act of terrorism.
Wharton said, “Texans expect leadership and action when public safety is at stake. This attack has shaken our state, and we must take seriously the responsibility to address the security vulnerabilities that put American lives at risk.”
In the letter, Wharton and other House Republicans demand full, unencumbered funding for DHS, which has been shut down since mid-February amid debate on immigration operations; an immediate freeze on all new H-1B visa issuances until an audit is performed on existing visa holders; a halt on processing new immigration applications; and the redirecting of resources toward identifying those already within the country who pose a threat to citizens.
Officials said the suspected gunman, 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, who was shot and killed during the attack, wore a sweatshirt with “Property of Allah” on the front and a shirt with a design similar to the Iranian flag. DHS said he entered the country on a tourist visa and later became a lawful permanent resident and naturalized U.S. citizen.
Along with Wharton, other area state representatives who signed the letter were Stan Gerdes and Stan Kitzman.
Wharton added, “Protecting Texans is not a partisan issue. We stand ready to work with state and federal partners to ensure our communities remain safe and secure.”
