TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES GB, CAA ie CAPITOL OFFICE: DISTRICT OFFICI AUSTIN, TEXAS 7768-2910 ERIC JOHNSON SALAS TERAS 75213 S12) 463 0586 OFFIC 214) 365-5663 OFFICE (512) 463-8147 FAX DISTRICT 100 * DALLAS (214) 565-5668 FAX January 30, 2017 ‘The Honorable Greg Abbott Governor of Texas State Capitol Room 28.1 Austin, Texas 78701 Dear Governor Abbott: ‘As you know, last Friday President Trump signed Executive Order “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States.” For 120 days, the order bars the entry of any refugee who is awaiting resettlement in the United States. It also prohibits all Syrian refugees from entering the United States until further notice and bans the citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries (Iraq, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, and Yemen) from entering the United States, unless they are already green card holders. ‘The decision to allow permanent residents back into the United States came only after several legal challenges to President Trump's order. While the Trump Administration has promoted the order as a necessary step to improve counterterrorism screening for individuals entering the country, itis poorly constructed, fails to address the most significant threats to national security, and threatens the civil and human rights of thousands of innocent refugees. The seven countries mentioned in the executive order are not the most populous countries in the region, nor have they produced terrorists in the same numbers as other countries not explicitly mentioned in the order. Individuals from countries that have a history of harboring terrorists, such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan, can still visit the United States. Despite President Trump’s official statement denying that the order constitutes a Muslim ban, this is a thinly veiled first step towards fulfilling his campaign promise to “ban all Muslims’ from entering the country. ‘The order violates the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 and possibly the United States Constitution without effectively addressing a compelling national security interest. Over the weekend, thousands of innocent Muslims fleeing violence and persecution were detained at airports across the United States and prevented from seeking asylum within our borders. Last September, you withdrew Texas from the federal refugee resettlement program, citing concerns over the level of screening Syrian refugees go through. While security is certainly a ‘COMMITTEES: 4% CALENDARS * ECONOMIC & SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, VICE-CHAIR * + HOMELAND SECURITY & PUBLIC SAFETY *CAPITOL OFFICE: concern following the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, France, I would be remiss if I did not reiterate what officials from the Office of Refugee Resettlement have already stressed: that refugees are only settled in the United States after lengthy, stringent security screenings that can take up to two years. Furthermore, security officials with the State Department conduct background and biometric screenings, and they process applications received through the United Nations. If additional security measures are necessary, I firmly believe those can be implemented in ways that do not ban refugees from certain countries altogether. Charity and national security do not have to be mutually exclusive. Without a doubt, President Trump’s order to suspend the entry of certain refugees and other immigrants into the United States is an abuse of power and constitutes a most reckless immigration policy. Not only has this new administration thrown the United States’ immigration system and international travel into chaos, it has dismantled decades of relationship building and squandered the goodwill generated by the efforts of thousands of dedicated foreign service officers and diplomats over many, many years. This ill-advised executive order may actually make Americans less safe by fueling dangerous xenophobic sentiments at home and feeding into the propaganda of radical terrorist groups abroad. There have already been reports of violence against Muslims in the wake of the executive order. As United States Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham said in a joint statement, “our most important allies in the fight against ISIL are the vast majority of Muslims who reject its apocalyptic ideology of hatred... this executive order sends a signal, intended or not, that America does not want Muslims coming into our country. That is why we fear this executive order may do more to help terrorist recruitment than improve our security.” 1 will continue to be a vocal opponent of this executive action and challenge my colleagues in the ‘Texas House of Representatives and Texas Senate to do the same. Asa fellow Christian, American, and Texan, I urge you to denounce this order during your State of the State address tomorrow. Furthermore, I ask that you communicate to the Trump Administration that Texans welcome immigrants and refugees, and that we demand sound, evidence-supported, non-discriminatory solutions to any national security issues raised by the refugee crisis. Sincerely, fohnson COMMITTEES: % CALENDARS * ECONOMIC & SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, VIC 4 HOMELAND SECURITY & PUBLIC SAFETY ® AIR * DISTRICT OFFICE: AUSTIN TBEAS 7a7682510 ERIC JOHNSON MO DATIAS TEAS 718 ic (214)565-5663 OFFICE (512) 463-8147 FAX DISTRICT 100 * DALLAS (214) 365-5668 FAX,