'As long as I'm governor ...': Abbott's resurfaced message to Indian community faces renewed scrutiny online
As more people become aware of the way the H-1B visa program is transforming Texas, many are turning to see what their leaders have to say about it.
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Unfortunately, in the case of Texas, the answer is not what Americans might expect from a red state.
'We will continue to celebrate Diwali here in the great state of Texas.'
In a resurfaced video clip, Governor Greg Abbott (R) can be heard giving a message to the "Indian community," apparently around the time of Diwali.
"As long as I'm governor of this great state, Texas will be a land for the Indian community," Abbott says in the clip.
ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images
"We will continue to celebrate Diwali here in the great state of Texas. Happy Diwali, everybody!"
The clip, which went viral on Monday, appears to originally be from a November 3, 2024, Diwali celebration at the governor's mansion.
A video of his remarks was uploaded on TikTok two days after the event, on November 5, 2024.
Diwali is a major Hindu holiday, celebrated in the lunar months of Ashvina and Karttika, that marks the victory of light over darkness, according to Britannica. A notable feature of this pagan holiday is the "row of lights" that is associated with the celebrations.
Abbott's office has previously denied to Blaze News any involvement in facilitating the H-1B program in Texas, noting that it is a federal program. His office has also touted the governor's pause of H-1B visas at state-sponsored institutions.
A Blaze News analysis of Department of Labor data from the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 found that Texas companies sponsored and certified over 11,200 H-1B visa applications, second only to California, which brought in over 13,700 H-1B visas, according to available data.
Blaze News reached out to Abbott's office for comment about the resurfaced video but did not receive a response.
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I am just an average American. My teen years were in the late 70s and I participated in all that that decade offered. Started working young, too young. Then I joined the Army before I graduated High School. I spent 25 years in, mostly in Infantry units. Since then I've worked in information technology positions all at small family owned companies. At this rate I'll never be a tech millionaire. When I was young I rode horses as much as I could. I do believe I should have been a cowboy. I'm getting in the saddle again by taking riding lessons and see where it goes.
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