Texas Governor Greg Abbott has initiated a massive deployment of National Guard troops in anticipation of protests against President Donald Trump's immigration policies. This military mobilization comes as the state simultaneously reduces its forces along the southern border.
According to Military.com, the Texas National Guard has deployed over 5,000 troops to prepare for potential demonstrations while decreasing its border presence from approximately 4,300 to 3,700 troops - a reduction of roughly 600 personnel.
The troop deployment follows recent protests in Austin, where approximately a dozen demonstrators were arrested and four police officers were injured. The governor's office has declined to comment on whether the border troop reduction is directly related to the protest deployment.
Border mission adjustments
Texas and Missouri are currently the only states where governors have publicly announced National Guard deployments in response to planned nationwide protests. The demonstrations, dubbed "No Kings," are scheduled for this weekend across multiple cities.
Abbott's deployment mirrors President Trump's recent actions in Los Angeles, where he sent thousands of California National Guardsmen and active-duty Marines to respond to protests despite objections from California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
The Texas National Guard continues to play a significant role in Operation Lone Star, which was launched in 2021 along the U.S.-Mexico border. A defense official confirmed that troops deployed for protest response are on state rather than federal orders, meaning the mission is funded by Texas.
Democratic governors respond
Neighboring border states have taken markedly different approaches to both the border mission and potential protests. New Mexico currently has no Guardsmen supporting operations at the southern border and will not deploy troops to respond to planned protests.
New Mexico's Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham explicitly stated during a news conference that the state would "never militarize the Guard in this way," referring to Trump's deployment of troops to Los Angeles over local officials' objections.
The Democratic Governors Association released a statement Thursday supporting Governor Newsom, asserting that "violence is unacceptable and that local authorities should be able to do their jobs without the chaos of this federal interference and intimidation."
Concerns over military deployment
The deployment of military personnel to respond to domestic protests has raised significant alarm among defense and legal experts. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested earlier this week that troop deployments similar to those in Los Angeles could happen anywhere across the country.
In his announcement, Abbott stated, "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."
The Texas National Guard has a unique partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement under a 287(g) agreement, which allows them to perform certain immigration enforcement actions while under state orders, further blurring the line between military and law enforcement functions.
Political divisions deepen
Missouri stands as the only other state besides Texas to publicly announce National Guard preparations for potential protests. Republican Governor Mike Kehoe stated that Missouri is "taking a proactive approach" rather than waiting "for chaos to ensue."
The Trump administration's increasingly aggressive immigration and deportation operations have sparked nationwide tensions. This weekend's planned "No Kings" demonstrations aim to protest both the administration's immigration actions and the militarized response to protests in Los Angeles.
For Texas residents, the governor's dual approach of deploying troops for protest response while reducing border forces represents a significant shift in priorities. With 5,000 National Guard troops now mobilized within the state, Texas is preparing for a weekend that could further test the boundaries between military deployment and civilian protest.
