A State Armed Against Its People
On June 12, 2025, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent a chilling message. He ordered over 5,000 National Guard soldiers and 2,000 Department of Public Safety troopers to flood cities like Houston and Lubbock. Their mission? To confront ordinary Texans planning protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement's ruthless raids. This massive deployment aims to silence voices demanding justice, rather than safeguarding peace.
The order came swiftly, targeting 'No Kings' rallies planned for this weekend. These demonstrations erupted after ICE's June 6 sweep in Los Angeles detained 2,200 people, including U.S. citizens caught in the chaos. People are marching for families torn apart, for communities living in fear. Yet Abbott brands them a threat, promising arrests for any sign of 'violence.' Why does a call for human rights trigger such a heavy-handed response?
This feels deeply personal. Families face deportations, neighbors hide from drones, and now those who speak out stare down armed soldiers. Abbott's actions send a stark warning: stay silent, or face the consequences. But Texans, and all Americans, deserve the right to demand better without fear of military might.
The Pain Behind the Protests
The 'No Kings' rallies stem from real suffering. ICE's Los Angeles operation rounded up 2,200 people in a single day, targeting factories and homes with no regard for humanity. Among those detained were citizens, swept up in a system that values quotas over lives. Nationwide, ICE now averages roughly 2,000 arrests daily, leaving communities in tatters.
These numbers represent people. Parents who can't tuck their children in, workers who lose livelihoods, kids who wait for loved ones who may never return. Civil rights groups report a flood of mixed-status families seeking legal help, desperate to navigate a merciless system. Why should a routine traffic stop end in deportation? Why are entire neighborhoods forced to live under constant surveillance?
The federal government only escalates the crisis. Nationwide expedited removal strips due process from anyone unable to prove two years' residence. The 287(g) program, now expanded to 456 agreements across 38 states, turns local police into immigration agents. Texas's February task-force deal empowers street cops to make immigration arrests, eroding trust in those meant to serve. This approach destroys communities, offering no real safety.
A Threat to Democracy
Abbott's troop surge, while occurring in Texas, serves as a national warning. Deploying the military against civilians recalls troubling history, from the 1968 riots to the 2020 protests. Since 1957, the National Guard has been used 12 times to control unrest, but 2025 marks a dangerous shift: troops sent to suppress immigration dissent. This precedent endangers free speech across the country.
Some defend Abbott, citing isolated looting and fires in Los Angeles as justification. But those incidents don't warrant militarizing Texas. Most 'No Kings' rallies, from Chicago to Boston, remain peaceful, organized by groups like 50501 and Indivisible. These are citizens calling for reform, rejecting chaos. Why punish everyone for the actions of a few?
The deeper risk lies in merging military and civilian roles. Texas's Guard, equipped for crowd control under Operation Lone Star, now patrols protests alongside DPS helicopters. This display of force undermines democracy, signaling that dissent will be met with overwhelming power, rather than safeguarding it.
A Demand for Change
Intimidation cannot prevail. The response to ICE's cruelty and Abbott's troops demands clear action, leaving no room for silence. Immigrant rights advocates are stepping up, offering legal aid, know-your-rights trainings, and bold policy demands. They call for ending 287(g) agreements, halting expedited removal, and protecting places like schools and hospitals from ICE's reach.
History proves change is possible. In 2006, 'A Day Without an Immigrant' marches pushed back against harsh laws. In 2018, 'Families Belong Together' rallies exposed family separations. Today's protests carry that legacy, uniting voices against injustice. Will we join them, or let soldiers stifle their message?
Texas's militarized response demands urgency. We need leaders who reject armed suppression and champion humane reform, from citizenship pathways to curbing ICE's unchecked power. Our communities deserve trust, free from fear. Our democracy thrives on freedom; force undermines it.