What Happens If Greg Abbott Expands Texas State Guard?

The fight between Texas Governor Gregg Abbott and the Biden administration over how to control illegal immigration at the border continues and now includes calls to “fully militarize” the Texas State Guard (TXSG).

Abbott has vowed to defy the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said razor wire installed along stretches the Texas side of the U.S.-Mexico border were illegal, and that Border Patrol agents should be allowed to remove them. The wire had been put in place by Texas law enforcement at Abbott’s direction.

In response, the Republican governor declared that Texas was under an “invasion” from migrants, invoked the state’s constitutional right to defend and protect itself, as well as order the Texas National Guard—which is under the direct command of the governor, rather than the president—to continue to install the razor wire.

There previously were calls from Democrats for President Joe Biden to federalize the state’s National Guard, essentially putting them under the command of the White House, to allow Border Patrol agents to remove the razor wire following the 5-4 Supreme Court ruling on January 22.

As the debate continues, Daniel Miller, president of the Texas Nationalist Movement, which campaigns for the Lone Star State to declare independence from the U.S., suggested that Abbott should expand the powers of the TXSG, the volunteer military agency that provides response during incidents such as the aftermath of a natural disaster.

“If Biden federalizes the Texas National Guard, Greg Abbott should immediately throw enlistment in the Texas State Guard WIDE OPEN, fully militarize them, and deploy them as a Border Protection Force along the entire border,” Miller posted on X, formerly Twitter.

The TXSG consists of military-trained volunteers, who are mainly used as a response unit when Texas is hit by hurricanes, floods or wildfires. Since 2021, it has been the lead military component for Operation Lone Star, a joint operation between the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Military Department, which patrols the southern border as part of plans to combat illegal immigration.

Just like the Texas National Guard, the TXSG operates under Title 32, which means it falls under the command of the Texas governor as their commander-in-chief.

Unlike the Texas National Guard, those serving in the TXSG cannot be called into federal service, meaning Abbott would be free to order that the TXSG has its roles expanded how the governor sees fit, including installing them along the U.S.-Mexican border for additional protection as suggested by Miller.

The main argument for such a move is that Texas will be able to try to control the border as it sees fit, without fear of the federal government trying to intervene, as seen with the current discussions surrounding the Texas National Guard.

In theory, the TSXG could also be ordered under increased militarization to prevent Border Patrol agents from trying to remove the wires or additional protection across the border, or block the Texas National Guard should it become federalized by Biden.

There is no indication that Abbott intends to increase the TXSG capabilities, with the optics of a Republican state-run military unit essentially battling a Democratic federal government as a predecessor of civil war.

Plus the TXSG has about 1,900 personnel, compared to the Texas National Guard’s roughly 23,000 members.

Miller told Newsweek “there was always a risk” that the federal government may try to intervene in the Texas National Guard ever since Abbott began using it for its Lone Star Operation.

“This is precisely why it’s been our position since 2012 that the Texas State Guard should be the primary vehicle used by the Texas Military Department for border protection,” Miller said.

“We predicted this would ultimately be the tactic used by the federal government in an attempt to keep the Texas border wide open to the cartels, and yet again, we’ve been proven right.”