As Texas Governor Greg Abbott continues to defy federal law and a Supreme Court order, experts in extremism have warned that another far-right riot — like the one that devastated the Capitol on Jan 6, 2021 — could break out in the near future.
The ruling
On Jan 22, the Supreme Court ruled that federal border patrol agents must be allowed to remove or cut razor wire installed by Texas at the southern border. State officials have refused to allow federal agents to enter certain areas along the border.
Deadly consequences
A week before the Supreme Court’s ruling, three migrants — two of them children — drowned in the Rio Grande while attempting to enter the US. On the same day, federal border patrol agents were prevented by state officials from entering the area where the migrants drowned.
Defiance
Abbott rejected the Supreme Court’s ruling, declaring that Texas law was “the supreme law of the land and supersedes any federal statutes to the contrary.” According to Stephen Vladeck, a University of Texas School of Law professor, “It’s pretty clear, under the Constitution, under our precedents, that immigration policy, control of the border really is ultimately in the federal government’s purview.”
Dangerous situation
In the days after Abbott declared that he would continue to defy the federal government, 25 other Republican governors signed a letter in support of Texas. Trump called for Republican states to send troops to Texas in solidarity.
Serious problem
“This rhetoric,” an expert at the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism explained, “combined with Texas’s standoff with the federal government, is applauded by the same far-right movements that engage in hate crimes, domestic terrorism, were prominent at the January 6 insurrection.”
Attracting danger
A convoy of trucks referring to itself as “God’s Army” and “Take Back Our Border” is currently heading to Texas. Despite encountering numerous problems, the group has raised over $130,000 to support its mission.
Dog whistles
The group has declared its intention to prevent migrants from crossing the border, though it is unclear how they plan to do this. Only twenty or so trucks joined the convoy, and at least one member was kicked out after arguments broke out.
Paranoia
According to Vice News, one possible reason for the low turnout is widespread paranoia that the mission was a “psyop” created by the FBI in order to trick far-right individuals into committing crimes.
Dangerous language
Members of the Proud Boys in Texas have called for locals to “grab their guns” to defend against “brown immigrant invaders.” Abbott, Trump, and other influential Republicans have repeatedly referred to the influx of migrants as an “invasion,” which has been criticized for its similarity to Nazi rhetoric.
Rising danger
“Abbott and other GOP leaders use the same tropes about migrants as white-power groups and frequently echo the ‘great replacement theory,’ which imagines the engineered replacement of White people in western societies,” a report in the Washington Post explained. “Hate trackers say violent movements have wasted little time in seizing on the political opening.”
Civil war
Experts at the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism and other organizations have warned that Abbott’s standoff could develop into a “slow-motion secession,” the Washington Post reported. According to NBC News, supporters of the “God’s Army” convoy made posts on social media calling for civil war.
Example
“All Governor Abbott has to do is call for the citizens, and we are armed and ready,” one user commented on a video about the events at the border. Another wrote that they were ready to join a “final battle for Americans.”
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