Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is deploying National Guard troops across his state ahead of expected protests against immigration raids, seeking to prevent the violence that has swept Los Angeles in recent days.
Abbott announced in an early Wednesday X post that he will send the troops “to ensure peace and order” in the coming days. The governor had deployed them to San Antonio by Monday night to prepare for left-wing protests planned for Wednesday and Saturday, the San Antonio Express-News reported. (RELATED: How Well-Funded, Organized Leftists Helped Jumpstart LA Riots)
“The State of Texas stands ready to deploy all necessary personnel and resources to uphold law and order across our state,” a spokesperson for Abbott told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “Texas National Guard soldiers are on standby in areas where mass demonstrations are planned in case they are needed.”
President Donald Trump called in the National Guard to Los Angeles on Saturday after outrage against local Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) searches on Friday devolved into rioting, which has persisted for days and led to hundreds of arrests.
Anti-ICE and anti-Trump protests quickly spread across the country, leading to more clashes with police and vandalism in several other Democrat-controlled cities. In Texas, crowds have already protested in Dallas, Austin, Houston and San Antonio since Friday, with law enforcement arresting one in Dallas while arresting and gassing others to disperse them in Austin on Monday night, according to multiple reports.
“Peaceful protests are part of the fabric of our nation, but Texas will not tolerate the lawlessness we have seen in Los Angeles,” the Abbott spokesperson said. “Anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property will be swiftly held accountable to the full extent of the law.”
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
