AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Monday his readiness to deploy state troopers after immigration-related protests in Austin resulted in more than a dozen arrests, according to state and local authorities.
Protesters gathered in downtown Austin Monday afternoon in response to federal immigration enforcement actions and in coordination with similar demonstrations in Los Angeles and other cities.
Authorities from the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Austin Police Department arrested multiple individuals during the demonstration.
Law enforcement officials reported the use of pepper spray and tear gas to disperse the crowd. The protest marked one of the few incidents of confrontation, while demonstrations in other Texas cities—including Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas—remained mostly peaceful.
Governor Abbott issued a public statement via social media, warning that additional unlawful protests would result in more arrests. He emphasized that law enforcement would continue monitoring protest activities statewide.
The protest activity follows recent federal announcements regarding immigration enforcement in Texas. Officials said the demonstration in Austin aligned with national protests opposing current immigration policies.
The Austin Police Department and state troopers continue to monitor local events. Authorities are reviewing the incident to assess the response.
