Collin County Candidates Respond to Bo French on Immigration, Assimilation

By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews

McKINNEY, Texas — A statewide controversy over immigration and who gets labeled a “foreigner” has made its way into three Collin County Texas House races.

Sandeep Srivastava, Brittany Black and Angie Carraway responded from three different perspectives: an immigrant who became an American citizen, a candidate connecting the issue to an earlier McKinney controversy, and a former teacher whose daughter attends UT.

The debate follows Bo French, the Republican nominee for Texas Railroad Commissioner, describing people pictured at a University of Texas football game as “foreigners” while arguing Americans are being displaced. French has defended his remarks.

Srivastava: ‘Our appearance doesn’t determine our belonging’

Sandeep Srivastava, the Democratic candidate challenging Republican state Rep. Matt Shaheen in HD-66, immigrated to the United States from India before becoming an American citizen.

“I came to this country from India, built my life here, and became an American,” Srivastava said. “I may have been born in India, but America is my home — and Texas is my home.”

Srivastava said border security, legal immigration, visas and protections for American workers are legitimate subjects for debate, but someone’s appearance doesn’t establish their citizenship or immigration status.

“And as an American Indian, I know firsthand that an American can have brown skin, an Indian name, and an immigrant story — and still be every bit as American as anyone else,” Srivastava said. “Our appearance doesn’t determine our belonging.”

Asked about assimilation, Srivastava said it didn’t require giving up his Indian identity.

“I can be proud of my Indian heritage, celebrate my traditions, speak my family’s language — and still be completely American,” he said. “I didn’t have to become less Indian to become more American.”

Shaheen publicly condemned French’s remarks as “disgusting” and “below conservative standards.” Srivastava welcomed his opponent’s response but remained critical of Shaheen’s broader record.

“I appreciate Representative Shaheen condemning those comments. I think that was the right thing to do,” Srivastava said. “But one statement on social media doesn’t erase an entire legislative record.”

Black: ‘Race is not immigration status’

Brittany Black, who is challenging Republican state Rep. Keresa Richardson in HD-61, said immigration policy, H-1B visas and international enrollment are legitimate subjects for debate.

“Race is not immigration status. Ethnicity is not citizenship,” Black said. “When we look at someone’s face or skin color and decide they are a ‘foreigner,’ we’ve stopped debating immigration policy and started deciding what we think an American is supposed to look like.”

On assimilation, Black pointed to the UT crowd itself.

“These are young people wearing burnt orange, standing together at a University of Texas football game,” she said. “If we’re going to judge anything from the photograph at all, that looks a whole lot like assimilation to me.”

Black also criticized Richardson’s approach during the McKinney mosque controversy. Richardson urged the City Council to pause final action on the proposed Islamic center’s site plan while raising concerns about Sharia law and potential foreign influence. The council ultimately approved the site plan 7-0.

“When you hold public office, your words carry weight,” Black said. “You have a responsibility not only to represent the people who agree with you, but also the people who don’t — and especially not to use fear of some of your own constituents to divide the rest of them.”

Black said she does not extend that criticism to Republicans generally.

“I’m not going to hold every Republican responsible for something one Republican says, particularly when Republican elected officials — including Rep. Jeff Leach — have publicly and unequivocally condemned these remarks,” she said.

Leach, a Plano Republican, called French’s remarks racist and said they made him “sick.”

Carraway: ‘Debate the policy’

Angie Carraway, the Democratic candidate challenging Republican state Rep. Candy Noble in HD-89, taught middle school for 14 years and has a daughter at UT.

“55,000 students call the University of Texas home. And my daughter is one of them,” Carraway said. “To me, that’s a photo of school pride and young people who worked hard to get where they are.”

Carraway said children recognize when adults are deciding whether they belong.

“We ought to be better than that,” she said.

She said disagreements over immigration and H-1B policy are legitimate but should remain focused on policy.

“If you want to change a policy, then debate the policy,” Carraway said. “But you can’t look at a photograph and know somebody’s citizenship, their visa status or the journey that brought them to UT. You just can’t.”

Carraway also called on Noble to address French’s remarks.

“I have not seen Rep. Noble speak out about it,” she said. “I hope she does. She should.”

TX3DNews contacted state Reps. Matt Shaheen, Jeff Leach, Keresa Richardson and Candy Noble for additional comment. This story will be updated with any responses.