Protests over President Trump’s deportation policies have sparked sharp divisions between Texas Republicans and Democrats—both in Congress and across the state.
Cruz backs Trump and Abbott on Guard deployment
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Sen. Ted Cruz defended the president’s decision to send the National Guard into California, blaming local leaders for inaction.
“The reason he did that is because Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass…refused to enforce the law,” Cruz told Eye On Politics. “What President Trump said is he’s going to step in and protect our communities.”
Cruz also praised Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s move to send over 5,000 National Guard troops and 2,000 state troopers ahead of planned protests.
“In Texas, we are going to do whatever is necessary to prevent violence,” Cruz said. “Everyone has a 1st Amendment right to protest peacefully. But no one has the right to commit violence, attack police, or loot.”
Veasey calls Guard response an overreach
Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, pushed back, calling the federal intervention unnecessary and politically motivated.
“What was happening within this very small radius…did not require the intervention of the National Guard,” Veasey said. “This is the showdown that Trump has been wanting for a long time.”
While Veasey condemned violence, he stressed that local authorities could handle it.
“The lunatics out there throwing things at law enforcement need to be arrested and prosecuted,” he said. “They don’t need to be pardoned like J-Sixers. They need to be held accountable. But I also think they didn’t need to call in the Guard.”
He also questioned Abbott’s motives, suggesting the governor might be trying to stay ahead of Trump.
“Abbott is probably also thinking this foolish president will call in the Guard for him and nationalize it if he doesn’t,” Veasey added.
The contrasting views reflect a broader debate over how to respond to civil unrest, immigration enforcement, and the limits of federal power in local matters.
