Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) warned Texans protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement not to “cross the line.”
Anti-ICE protesters gathered Monday night in Austin, Texas, outside the state Capitol following several illegal immigrant raids across the state. This followed the riots in Los Angeles over the 45 illegal immigrants arrested in a California ICE raid over the weekend. Abbott confirmed Tuesday that over a dozen protesters were arrested in Austin.
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“Peaceful protesting is legal. But once you cross the line, you will be arrested,” Abbott wrote on X, followed by the acronym “FAFO,” which stands for “f*** around and find out.”
The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed that some of those arrested were subsequently charged with felony criminal mischief and resisting arrest.
“During Monday evening’s response, DPS personnel deployed tear gas and pepper ball projectiles to ensure officer safety and maintain order,” the agency wrote in a statement.
Abbott threatened his own local officials further amid reporting that found Harris County, where Houston is located, was using funds toward an immigrant defense fund.
“I am signing a law that bans taxpayer dollars from being used to bail criminals out of jail,” Abbott wrote Tuesday on X. “Including those arrested for protesting. Including banning NGO money that is taxpayer dollars.”
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In May, the Department of Homeland Security conducted a deportation flight out of Texas that included at least eight illegal immigrants from Mexico, Cuba, Burma, Laos, Vietnam, and South Sudan, all of whom had outstanding criminal charges against them. The DHS has a habit of sharing the mugshots of criminal immigrants arrested in Texas.
Meanwhile, ICE conducted worksite enforcement operations last month that resulted in 31 arrests. Another operation by ICE officials led to the discovery of a home in south Texas that was housing 16 illegal immigrants who were also arrested.