Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday that he has ordered the deployment of more than 5,000 Texas National Guard troops and over 2,000 state police officers to support local law enforcement in response to ongoing protests related to federal immigration enforcement and President Donald Trump.
The deployment comes ahead of additional demonstrations planned for Saturday in cities including San Antonio, Houston, Austin, and Dallas. These protests are part of the national “No Kings” movement.
Abbott did not specify the exact locations where the troops were being deployed. However, some were seen on Wednesday evening near the Alamo in downtown San Antonio, where a protest drew hundreds of participants.
Protests held earlier in the week in Austin and Dallas resulted in brief confrontations between demonstrators and police. Law enforcement used chemical dispersants to manage crowds, and approximately a dozen individuals were arrested, according to local authorities.
In a statement, Abbott said the state supports peaceful demonstrations but emphasized that unlawful behavior would not be tolerated.
“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,” Abbott said.
“Anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property will be arrested and held accountable to the full extent of the law.”
Local officials in Texas, including mayors in San Antonio and Austin, said they did not request National Guard assistance.
The Texas Department of Public Safety and the National Guard are expected to remain on alert throughout the weekend. Authorities continue to monitor developments related to the planned protests.
