Congresswoman Veronica Escobar has joined Congressman Joaquin Castro and eight other Texas Democrats in urging Governor Greg Abbott to halt the deployment of Texas National Guard troops to other states. The lawmakers criticized Abbott’s cooperation with President Trump’s decision to send 200 Texas National Guard members to Chicago, calling it an “illegal deployment” and demanding their immediate withdrawal.
In a letter sent this week, the group stated: “As Members of Congress representing Texans, we urge you to immediately decline, withdraw, and refuse any cooperation or support for the deployment of the Texas National Guard to Portland, Oregon, Chicago, Illinois, or any other state for civilian or criminal law enforcement purposes. Despite Illinois’ pending litigation in federal court, you’ve willingly sent 200 Texas National Guard troops to Chicago. This request is urgent, grounded in U.S. law, public safety, and our responsibility to the people of Texas.”
The lawmakers referenced a recent federal court order from Oregon that prohibited federalized National Guard deployments—including those from Texas—to Portland. They noted Judge Karin Immergut’s ruling that such deployments violated constitutional and statutory law. The letter continued: “At a moment when the Administration is threatening to send federalized National Guard troops hundreds of miles away from their families, job, and communities, and without a clear factual and legal explanation for the scope and duration of the alleged mission, this deployment violates the rule of law, puts Texas National Guard servicemembers at risk, and sets a precedent that undermines the ability of Texas to resist a similar imposition by other states in the future.”
The lawmakers also expressed concern about using Guard members as a domestic police force outside Texas: “Texans did not join the National Guard to be used as a political weapon aimed at fellow American citizens in another state. Our Guard members are citizen-soldiers who serve in disasters, defend our state, and serve overseas when required. Turning them into a domestic police force in another state – especially over that state’s objections – erodes public trust and undermines the Guard’s core mission.”
They warned that sending troops out-of-state could compromise emergency readiness within Texas: “Our state faces hurricanes, wildfires, and other emergencies that demand readiness at home. When the federal government sends our troops to police our neighbors, it creates more fear and distrust, and is an inappropriate and unacceptable diversion of personnel, equipment, and funds.” The letter further stated: “Deploying Texas troops to another state, even under a federalized posture, is deeply concerning, and it sets a dangerous precedent that states can police one another’s communities. Texans would oppose any other state that deployed military forces into our cities without our consent. If any other state deployed their National Guard to Texas without our consent, we would call that an invasion of Texas. We must not do the same to Oregon, Illinois, or any other American state.”
The group said there has been no clear justification for these deployments: “As noted in the Oregon decision, the Administration has not provided a compelling justification for the use of federalized National Guard troops in Portland… we do not believe that the President’s use of his authority under Title 10 or any other statute to deploy the Texas National Guard is lawfully justify,” they wrote.
The lawmakers outlined several demands for Governor Abbott:
– Publicly commit not to cooperate with deployments for domestic policing over objections from other states.
– Request rescission of decisions deploying troops outside Texas.
– Direct that no personnel or equipment be provided for such operations.
– Release legal analyses on presidential authority regarding these deployments.
– Coordinate legal compliance with court orders.
– Prioritize readiness for emergencies within Texas.
– Pursue litigation if necessary.
Veronica Escobar has represented her district since 2018 and has consistently won re-election by significant margins against her opponents Irene Armendariz-Jackson (in 2020 through 2024) and Rick Seeberger (in 2018).
