Dem
47
GOP
53
While there are unresolved issues about the conditions under which a president can federalize the National Guard, governors can deploy the Guard pretty much whenever they want to. So, Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) has decided he wants to. Protests are happening all over Texas (and elsewhere) and Abbott hates being upstaged by what is going on in California. After all, he was one of the first protesters about immigration, spending $148 million of Texas taxpayers' money to ship busloads of immigrants from Texas to Chicago, New York, D.C., and other blue cities. He never bothered to explain to his constituents how this improves their lives, though. It's probably obvious to them, although not to us.
There have been peaceful demonstrations in San Antonio and organizers have promised more. This is what Abbott wants to suppress by calling out the National Guard. In Austin as well, there were demonstrations in front of the state Capitol Monday and again yesterday. Local police used pepper spray and flash-bang grenades on the protesters and a dozen were arrested.
Two Democratic congressmen from Texas, Reps. Joaquin Castro and Greg Casar, denounced Abbott for his move. Their statement read, in part: "By needlessly deploying the National Guard, Gov. Abbott is escalating tensions rather than promoting safety and calm." (V)