The governor of the US state of Texas, Republican Greg Abbott, announced on Wednesday the deployment of the Texan National Guard with the stated objective of “ensuring peace and order,” while emphasizing that this military force “will use all tools and strategies to assist law enforcement in maintaining order.”
The announcement comes ahead of the planned protests in the state in the coming days against the raids and deportations by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), similar to those that have been happening in Los Angeles since the weekend and that led Donald Trump to call on the National Guard without the approval of the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom.
Why will the governor summon the National Guard in Texas?
“The Texas National Guard will be deployed to points throughout the state to ensure peace and order. Peaceful protest is legal. Harming individuals or property is illegal and will result in arrest,” Abbott said, shortly after emphasizing that security forces “are on the front line to keep Texas as a state of law and order.”
In this way, Abbott highlighted in a message posted on his social media account X that “to support them”, he will sign “a law that ensures they can use all available tools to fight criminals without being attacked by rogue prosecutors.” “We support our agents,” added the governor.
The governor, who strongly supports Donald Trump’s anti-immigration measures, seems to want to preempt possible protests in Austin and San Antonio.
According to The New York Times, Abbott’s press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, said that the “Texas National Guard soldiers are on alert in areas where large demonstrations are planned in case they are needed.”
Tension is rising in California
According to California authorities, arrests for incidents have been on the rise, reaching 197 people this Tuesday. The chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, Jim McDonnell, warned that failure to comply with the curfew imposed by Mayor Karen Bass will result in arrests, except for residents, medical personnel, law enforcement, and accredited media.
From the federal government, Attorney General Pam Bondi has toughened her stance, stating that the Trump administration “is not afraid to go further” to control the situation. The possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807, which would allow for the deployment of the military on the streets, has even been considered. “We will do everything within our legal authority to protect our law enforcement officers and all the people of California,” Bondi affirmed.
On the other hand, the governor of California, Gavin Newsom, denounced that Trump is “destroying democracy” and accused the president of using the military to suppress dissent. “This is not just about the protests here in Los Angeles. Other states are next. Democracy is next,” warned Newsom, who called for peaceful mobilization.