Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced that the state will opt-out of the federal refugee resettlement program, becoming the first state in the nation to do so. An executive order signed by President Donald Trump allows states and local governments to consent or decline before refugees can be resettled there. Abbott explained that the state can't accept additional refugees this year because "Texas continues to have to deal with the consequences of an immigration system that Congress has failed to fix."

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced that the state will not be participating in the federal refugee resettlement program, becoming the first state in the nation to do so.

Governor Abbott cited concerns about the border as part of his decision to decline allowing refugees to resettle in the state.

The Texas newspaper Statesman reported on Friday that in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Abbott said he "cannot consent to initial refugee resettlement" in 2020.

The letter was in response to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that allows states and local governments to consent before refugees can be resettled there.