This story has been updated with information from the Texas Governor’s June 12 press release.
Gov. Greg Abbott has confirmed the deployment of thousands of Texas National Guard soldiers and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers across Texas in anticipation of planned protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions.
“Peaceful protests are part of the fabric of our nation, but Texas will not tolerate the lawlessness we have seen in Los Angeles in response to President Donald Trump’s enforcement of immigration law,” Abbott said in a June 12 press release. “Today, I deployed over 2,000 Texas DPS troopers and over 5,000 Texas National Guard soldiers across the state to assist local law enforcement response to these protests and to maintain law and order. Anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property will be arrested and held accountable to the full extent of the law. Don’t mess with Texas — and don’t mess with Texas law enforcement.”
The soldiers and troopers are to support local law enforcement in preparation for the weekend’s nationwide anti-ICE protest. DPS troopers, including Special Agents and Texas Rangers, have been called to protest sites. The National Guard soldiers have been “strategically positions to bolster state and local law enforcement response to any criminal activity,” per the press release.
Texas lawmakers criticize Abbott for National Guard deployment
Prior to publication of the June 12 press release, San Antonio’s Democratic state House delegation called on Gov. Greg Abbott to brief the city on the National Guard deployment. Guard members arrived in the city Tuesday night, ahead of protests scheduled for June 11 and June 14.
In a letter addressed to the governor, Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer shared his “concern over the lack of coordination with local authorities in the staging of Texas National Guard troops in San Antonio.” He explained that city officials and local law enforcement have not been briefed, citing a Wednesday press conference with Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Police Chief William McManus.
“The Governor has since confirmed that Texas National Guard troops are being deployed in cities around the state. That communication available purely on social media raises more questions than it answers,” Fischer wrote. “If the protests around the state pose a threat significant enough to justify military intervention, then local leaders must be informed of that threat and the state’s response.”
On behalf of the Bexar County Legislative Delegation, Fischer asked for a briefing “on the deployment’s scope, legal authority, and operational goals.” He referred to the legal challenge of a similar action in Los Angeles, in which federal troops responded to anti-ICE protests despite objections from California’s governor as well as local officials.
“Briefings and coordination at every level are critical,” Fischer wrote in closing. “Sending soldiers into our cities without explanation invites conflict and puts our communities at risk.”
Fischer posted his letter to social media, saying, “The lack of communication is frightening.” He also listed other state representatives who share his concerns: Ray Lopez, Liz Campos, Josey Garcia, Barbara Gervin-Hawkins and Diego Barnel.
As of 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Fischer had not publicly responded to the latest press release from the Governor’s office.
When is ‘No Kings Day’?
Several Texas cities are expected to hold rallies for “No Kings Day of Mobilizations” on Saturday, June 14. The protests are organized by “50501,” a grassroots movement enabling independent organization across the country, My San Antonio reports. “No Kings Day” has been intentionally planned for the same day as the Trump administration’s military parade in D.C., which also coincides with Trump’s birthday.
News of the National Guard’s deployment comes after hundreds of protesters assembled at the Texas Capitol in Austin Monday to show support for those protesting ICE actions in Los Angeles. Similar demonstrations were held in downtown Dallas that same evening, and protests also occurred in San Antonio and Houston over the weekend.
Tensions in Los Angeles escalated after an ICE raid on June 6 led to the arrest of several individuals. The operation sparked protests that escalated over the weekend, prompting President Donald Trump to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to the city.
On June 9, California filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the deployment of the National Guard without prior consultation with Governor Gavin Newsom. The governor criticized the decision in a social media post, calling it “illegal and immoral.” In another post that morning, Newsom accused Trump of “illegally” federalizing the Guard and declared, “We’re suing him.”
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Gov. Abbott deploys 7,000 personnel to anti-ICE protests: Texas lawmakers critical
Reporting by Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman / Austin American-Statesman
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
