Abbott Deploys National Guard As Anti-ICE Protests Escalate In Texas

As anti-ICE protests spiral out of control across the country, Texas Governor Greg Abbott isn’t waiting for chaos to engulf his state. On Tuesday night, Abbott announced he would deploy the Texas National Guard across the state to maintain law and order as left-wing demonstrators target ICE facilities and law enforcement.

“Peaceful protest is legal. Harming a person or property is illegal & will lead to arrest,” Abbott posted on X. “@TexasGuard will use every tool & strategy to help law enforcement maintain order.”

Protests erupted earlier this week in Dallas and Austin, with more scheduled in San Antonio and other Texas cities in the coming days. The protests are part of a larger coordinated effort by radical leftist group “No Kings,” which is planning demonstrations in all 50 states to coincide with President Trump’s birthday and the Army’s 250th anniversary parade this Saturday in Washington, D.C.

Key incidents driving Abbott’s National Guard deployment:

• In Austin, police used pepper spray and tear gas to disperse protesters who refused to clear the streets. More than a dozen were arrested after clashes with law enforcement.

• A federal building housing ICE detainees in Austin was vandalized with graffiti reading, “ICE NEEDS 2 SURRENDER & RELEASE THE HOSTAGES” and “MODERN DAY SLAVERY DISGUISED AS CRIMINAL REFORM.”

• Six men face felony charges for criminal mischief, resisting arrest, and other offenses after the Austin riot.

• In Dallas, tensions flared Monday night, with demonstrators clashing with officers before police deployed pepper spray and made multiple arrests.

Abbott made it clear he has no tolerance for the escalating violence. “Peaceful protesting is legal. But once you cross the line, you will be arrested. FAFO,” Abbott said bluntly, referencing the popular phrase, “F* Around and Find Out.”**

The unrest in Texas mirrors similar chaos seen in California last weekend, where anti-ICE rioters attacked law enforcement and destroyed businesses in Los Angeles. President Trump responded by deploying thousands of National Guard troops and 700 Marines to restore order, slamming Democrat leaders like California Governor Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass for allowing the situation to spiral out of control.

Despite California filing a lawsuit against Trump for his federal deployments, the president defended his actions, stating that Los Angeles would have been “burning to the ground” if not for federal intervention.

The broader national context reveals the stakes:

• Since 2021, illegal immigration has reached record-breaking levels, with over 2.5 million encounters at the southern border in fiscal year 2023 alone, according to CBP data.

• ICE arrested over 170,000 illegal aliens with criminal records last year, many of whom are now shielded by Democrat-run sanctuary policies.

• Violent protests are becoming the Left’s go-to tactic for resisting immigration enforcement and undermining the rule of law.

While the Biden administration remains largely silent, Republican leaders like Abbott and Trump are stepping up to confront the lawlessness head-on. As Trump prepares to celebrate the Army’s 250th anniversary parade in D.C. this Saturday, the message from Texas is clear: law and order will be enforced and those who seek to riot will face serious consequences.

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