Gov. Greg Abbott to deploy National Guard troops across Texas ahead of protests

Jake Harris and Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Jun 11, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced late Tuesday he deployed Texas National Guard troops to San Antonio in advance of protests planned for Wednesday night against a Trump administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

He also said he plans to send guardsmen elsewhere in the state to “uphold law and order,” days ahead of planned protests in dozens of cities Saturday including Fort Worth, Arlington and Dallas. The “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.”.

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.”

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.”