Tension between the Trump Administration and anti-ICE protests continues to rise ahead of planned protests in Austin this weekend. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson confirmed this week that the Texas National Guard may be called upon to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety if the situation escalates.
In a statement shared by KXAN, Mayor Watson emphasized Austin's commitment to peaceful assembly while warning against destructive behavior.
“The City of Austin has been notified that the National Guard will be prepared to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety on Saturday, if deemed necessary,” Mayor Watson said. “The City of Austin will continue to protect the right of people to peacefully assemble. We will continue to recognize the humanity and value of our immigrant community.”
The mayor urged protesters to remain peaceful, warning that violent acts or damage to property will only embolden those who undermine immigrant communities. “Destructive actions or efforts to hurt police is wrong. You are damaging your city,” he said. “Much of what we see out of Washington is to create fear and chaos— we should not play into these politics of fear.”
Austin Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes voiced stronger opposition to the use of the National Guard as a response to protests. “We’ve seen this playbook before,” she said. “Military force used to threaten and silence communities demanding justice. To every Texan exercising their constitutionally protected free speech: know your rights, stay vigilant, and protect one another.”
Protests have erupted across the country as anti-ICE protestors rally against the Trump Administration’s enforcement of deportations. Critics argue that federal and state leadership are escalating tensions by deploying the National Guard, but supporters claim the response is necessary to maintain public safety.
Mayor Watson concluded his remarks by reminding residents of the stakes at hand, affirming, “we must continue to assert our First Amendment rights to peacefully assemble without creating negative consequences for real people already living in fear.”
