AUSTIN, Texas (March 2, 2026) — Texas Rep. Gill has ignited a fierce national debate by demanding an immediate ban on all Islamic immigration to the United States, directly linking the policy to yesterday’s deadly mass shooting at Buford’s Bar.
The March 1 attack unfolded just after 9 p.m., when 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Senegal, opened fire from his SUV parked outside the popular downtown bar. Witnesses described Diagne stepping out and continuing the assault with a rifle before Austin police shot and killed him at the scene.
Two people were killed and 14 others were wounded in the rampage. Authorities recovered a sweatshirt reading “Property of Allah” on Diagne’s body and a Quran inside his vehicle. The FBI confirmed it is actively investigating possible terrorism links, noting Diagne’s prior arrests and history of international travel.
In a rapid series of posts on X shortly after the shooting, Rep. Gill tied the incident squarely to U.S. immigration policy.
“Enough is enough. We cannot continue importing individuals from Islamic countries who bring this ideology with them. Time for a total ban on Islamic immigration — now,” Gill wrote, according to screenshots circulating online.
The remarks quickly drew strong support from conservative leaders. Former Trump attorney Sidney Powell publicly backed the call, posting: “Rep. Gill is speaking the hard truth that too many politicians refuse to say. Our borders and our laws must protect American lives first.”
Critics, however, were swift to push back. Several Democratic lawmakers and immigration advocacy groups highlighted Rep. Gill’s own Indian-American family background, accusing him of hypocrisy and xenophobia.
“Targeting an entire religion while ignoring the fact that the shooter was a naturalized citizen is not policy — it’s prejudice,” said one Texas-based civil rights organizer. “This is fear-mongering that distracts from real solutions on mental health, gun access, and domestic extremism.”
Local law enforcement continues to investigate Diagne’s full background, including how he obtained his firearms and any potential radicalization. No manifesto has been released, and officials have not yet confirmed a definitive motive.
The shooting has once again thrust Austin into the national spotlight and intensified the already heated national conversation over immigration, terrorism screening, and Second Amendment rights just months before the midterm elections.
Rep. Gill’s office said the congressman will hold a press conference later today to elaborate on his proposed legislation.
