Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) deployed more than 5,000 National Guard troops throughout his state on Thursday to back up law enforcement ahead of mass protests planned this weekend against President Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Abbott announced the surge in a news release that cited unrest in Los Angeles, which prompted Trump to send thousands of National Guard members and Marines to the nation’s second most populous city, against the wishes of city and state leaders.
“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 [Trump’s] enforcement of immigration law,” Abbott said in a statement. “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,” he added.
Abbott had said on the social platform X on Wednesday that the National Guard would be prepared to “ensure peace & order” as protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids spread beyond California.
Demonstrations are expected to swell through the week, with the groups No Kings and 50501 promoting events in Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Georgia and other states.
In addition to National Guard troops, Abbott said he also has called up more than 2,000 Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers, including special agents and Texas Rangers, to bolster thousands of DPS troopers already stationed across the state.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has blasted Trump throughout this week, and the state sued the Trump administration on Monday over the federalization of the National Guard and mobilization of Marines, with thousands of troops deployed in and around LA.
Trump’s order deploying troops to Los Angeles was not specific to California or particular guard units, raising concerns that it will be used to justify military deployments to suppress protests in other states.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday indicated during a Senate hearing that the order could cover mobilization of the military in other states, but he said he hoped governors would act proactively if protests risk getting out of hand.