The state legislators delivered a letter to the Democratic and Republican leaders of Congress as the FBI investigates the shooting spree as potential terrorism.
DALLAS — A group of 71 Texas lawmakers asked Congressional leaders to pause immigration in the wake of the deadly massacre on Sixth Street in Austin over the weekend.
The FBI suspects Ndiaga Diagne, a 53-year-old naturalized citizen originally from Sengal, opened fire into Buford’s Bar on Sixth Street killing two people and wounding 14 others.
Police shot and killed Diagne on the street during his rampage as he wore a sweatshirt with the words “Property of Allah” printed on the front.
“Terrorists do not care about party affiliation,” wrote state Rep. Cole Hefner, R-Mount Pleasant, and chairman of the Texas House Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans’ Affairs. “While Americans on both sides of the aisle disagree—sometimes fiercely—on policy, we share far more in common with one another than we will ever share with radical Islamic extremism.”
The 71 Texas lawmakers, all Republican, listed four demands in their letter to Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Minority Leader, Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune, and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.
First, they asked Congress to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Democrats refused to approve funding for DHS after masked federal agents participated in a violent roundup of people in Minneapolis that left two Americans dead.
“Budgetary obstruction and political gamesmanship that starves DHS of the resources it needs is not a negotiating tactic, it is a national security failure,” the Texas Republicans wrote.
Second, the Texans asked Congress to immediately freeze all H-1B visas and called for a “comprehensive audit of existing visa holders and their current status is completed.”
Third, the Texans demanded Congress pause all immigration until proper vetting protocols are established. “Until we can guarantee that our systems are capable of identifying, tracking, and vetting individuals who enter the United States, we cannot in good conscience continue to process new immigration applications at the current pace. A pause is not anti-immigrant—it is pro-American,” the letter said.
Finally, they asked Congress to redirect resources toward identifying threats within the country.
“If Congress refuses to act, then Congress must empower the states to act. Texas has demonstrated repeatedly that it will not stand idle while Washington fails. We will use every legal and legislative tool available to protect our citizens, with or without federal cooperation,” Hefner continued.