Overview
- More than 70 Texas House Republicans sent a March 2 letter to congressional leaders seeking full DHS funding, an immediate freeze on new H‑1B visas pending an audit, a pause on new immigration until enhanced vetting is in place, and a redirection of resources to find threats already inside the country.
- The lawmakers warned that if Congress does not act, Texas will use legal and legislative tools to protect residents and urged Congress to empower states to take action.
- The FBI has confirmed it is investigating the March 1 West 6th Street shooting as an act of terrorism.
- Authorities identified the suspect as Ndiaga Diagne, 53, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Senegal, who did not enter the country on an H‑1B visa and whose firearms were reportedly purchased legally.
- Reports differ on the death toll, with outlets citing either two or three people killed and 14 injured in the downtown Austin attack.