Gov. Greg Abbott to deploy National Guard troops across Texas ahead of protests
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he plans to deploy Texas National Guard troops to San Antonio and other cities “to uphold law and order” during planned protests against a Trump administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
Demonstrations are scheduled in dozens of cities this weekend including Fort Worth, Arlington and Dallas. The so-called “No Kings” events are being organized to draw attention from a military parade and celebration of the Army’s 250th birthday in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, which is also President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
“Texas National Guard will be deployed to locations across the state to ensure peace & order,” Abbott posted on X June 10. “Peaceful protest is legal. Harming a person or property is illegal & will lead to arrest. @TexasGuard will use every tool & strategy to help law enforcement maintain order.”
There were no immediate details Wednesday on whether National Guard troops would be activated in Fort Worth or elsewhere in North Texas.
On Wednesday, a Fort Worth police spokesman told the Star-Telegram that the department is preparing for the weekend’s events.
“The Fort Worth Police Department is working closely with our community and our Intelligence Fusion Center to monitor all activity during any peaceful protests that may take place in the City of Fort Worth,” the spokesman said.
Trump has sent thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of Marines to Los Angeles in response to protests over the administration’s immigration policies, according to the Associated Press.
In an interview with reporters Wednesday morning, Abbott was asked whether he’d accept Trump sending Marines or National Guard members to Texas.
“What I think is more appropriate is for Texas law enforcement and Texas National Guard to step up and do their duty so that they would not have a need to send out the Marines here,” Abbott said, adding that there will be many protests, some of which will be large.
“We need to make sure that local law enforcement have the resources and capabilities they need, the Texas Department of Public Safety has the resources and capabilities they need, and that they have full assistance by others to make sure that they have enough boots on the ground, and therein comes the need for the National Guard,” Abbott said.
Abbott declined to say how he’s deciding where to send state resources.
“The first people who will read that will be the people who are, will be making decisions to alter their schematic,” Abbott said. “So here’s the deal, we don’t disclose our decision making process, our tactics or strategies. We just execute when, where and how needed.”
The state needs to ensure “what has happened in California does not happen in Texas,” Abbott said during a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
“Texas is a law and order state, and we will use every tool that we can to ensure order across our state, that includes the deployment of the Texas Department of Public Safety officers, as well as Texas National Guard, in strategic locations where they can provide the most robust response where needed,” Abbott said.
Hundreds of people protested Monday night in Dallas, where with one man was arrested on accusations of assaulting an officer, The Dallas Morning News reported.
An anti-ICE protest in Austin on June 9 resulted in a standoff between protesters and state and local police, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The protest was mostly peaceful, but tear gas and pepper ball projectiles were used after protesters threw rocks at officers and vandalized a federal building, the newspaper reported Tuesday.
Abbott’s office confirmed the deployment to San Antonio NBC affiliate NEWS4SA, saying:
“The State of Texas stands ready to deploy all necessary personnel and resources to uphold law and order across our state. Texas National Guard soldiers are on standby in areas where mass demonstrations are planned in case they are needed. Peaceful protests are part of the fabric of our nation, but Texas will not tolerate the lawlessness we have seen in Los Angeles. Anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property will be swiftly held accountable to the full extent of the law.”
San Antonio police also confirmed the deployment to NEWS4SA, but added they don’t have any more additional information.
This Wednesday protest is in addition to Saturday’s “No Kings” protests against President Donald Trump that are planned across the country.
Previously, Abbott posted on X around midnight June 10 that protesters who “cross the line” will “FAFO,” an acronym for “(Expletive) Around and Find Out.”
“You break the law, you cross the line, you will be arrested,” Abbott said at the Wednesday news conference, later adding, “There is freedom of speech, however, if in your protest you damage somebody’s property or you harm an individual, that’s violating the law and you will be arrested for it.”
Reporter Fousia Abdullahi contributed to this story.
This story was originally published June 11, 2025 at 10:12 AM.
