Texas Senate Candidate Calls for an End to Travel Bans
Representative James Talarico, who is running for the Texas Senate, has urged the removal of President Donald Trump’s travel and entry restrictions from countries identified as high-risk for terrorism.
In the wake of the March 1 shooting in Austin, Texas, Talarico reportedly addressed fears surrounding Islamic terrorism. The shooter, Ndiaga Diagne, was alleged to have opened fire in a bar while wearing a hoodie that read “Property of Allah.”
Talarico expressed, “I believe in the power of prayer. I believe prayer changes lives. But there’s a great irony in asking God to solve problems we don’t want to solve ourselves,” reflecting on the tragic incident that claimed three lives and injured many others.
He continued by stating that “as we prayed, God sent common-sense gun safety proposals to lawmakers, including universal background checks and red flag laws.”
Back in May 2021, Talarico noted on social media, “Texas has the largest Muslim population in the nation. Today, I introduced a bill to allow imams to perform weddings in the state. As-Salam Alaikum, everyone.”
He also thanked Islamic activists for their support in crafting House Bill 2039 and appreciated their testimony at a recent hearing.
Talarico is among those advocating for an end to what some have labeled the “Muslim ban,” which has been criticized for its implications on travel and immigration from various countries with frequent terrorist incidents.
Countries targeted by the ban include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Interestingly, former Breitbart News senior editor Joel Pollack pointed out that there has never been a blanket “Muslim ban.” Instead, the restrictions were aimed at countries grappling with terrorism issues, many of which were flagged by the previous administration.
Pollack further emphasized that while some of the banned countries are Muslim-majority, the restrictions did not encompass Muslims from other Middle Eastern nations or large Muslim countries like Indonesia.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has contemplated a “pause” on Syrian refugee acceptance due to concerns about security and potential threats from Islamic State fighters, as noted by Pollack.
Talarico mentioned in a 2017 post that he is proud to stand with his Muslim neighbors, asserting, “Texas is big enough for all of us.” He has also made remarks suggesting that many of his colleagues in the Texas Legislature from various faiths exemplify “Christ-like” behavior more than some Christians do.
“I have met so many Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jews, Muslims, atheists, and agnostics who are more like Christ than many Christians. What matters is how you treat others,” he commented.
In a Facebook post from 2016, Talarico shared his enthusiasm for campaigning for Sean Hassan, indicating it was partly to “upset” President Trump. His campaign efforts focused on electing progressive Muslim Americans.
