McALLEN, TX – Hundreds of demonstrators gathered near this border city’s federal courthouse on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. The scene was charged with emotion as attendees waved American flags and brandished signs criticizing both Trump and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while drivers honked in support of the protesters' message.
Protests, marches, and rallies erupted across Texas and the nation on Saturday, drawing attention to what many participants see as the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement and authoritarian tendencies. Angeline Garza, a 36-year-old elementary school teacher from Mission, expressed her support for undocumented children and families. “Now more than ever, [deportations] are affecting a lot of people, and they are seeing what the Trump administration wanted to do from the beginning, that it was not just about deporting criminals,” Garza stated.
These demonstrations coincided with President Trump’s planned military parade in Washington, D.C., marking his birthday and the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary. However, tensions were heightened by earlier events, as two Democratic Minnesota legislators and their spouses were shot at their homes, prompting the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to warn state lawmakers of credible threats tied to the protest at the state Capitol in Austin. The Capitol was subsequently evacuated.
Despite these warnings, protest organizers underscored their commitment to nonviolence. By 3 p.m. on Saturday, protests across Texas were in full swing. In McAllen, a sparse number of Trump supporters were present, including one man who paraded through the crowd with large Trump flags, which elicited chants and expletives from protesters. He later exited the area without incident.
In Odessa, more than 150 people assembled, including families, veterans, and oil field workers, who waved flags from the U.S., Mexico, and El Salvador, and recited the pledge of allegiance. They criticized Trump’s perceived authoritarian approach to governance. Suzanne Pack, a 62-year-old retired dietitian, attended her first protest, motivated by concerns over due process and women's rights. “I believe that the government is not taking seriously the importance of due process, and I also believe that women's rights are being tread upon, especially in Texas,” she said.
The Texas “No Kings” protests were organized primarily by progressive groups such as 50501, Women’s March, and Indivisible, and supported by smaller grassroots organizations. Alex Svehla, a representative from 50501 San Antonio, emphasized the movement’s message against “executive overreach” by the Trump administration.
The protests occurred as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were reportedly instructed to “largely pause” enforcement in specific industries, according to The New York Times. Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the deployment of over 5,000 National Guard members in anticipation of the protests. Abbott acknowledged the right to peaceful protest but warned against lawlessness, drawing criticism from organizers who stressed their events' nonviolent nature.
In Odessa, the protest maintained a peaceful atmosphere, with organizers coordinating with law enforcement. Leon Fowler, an 82-year-old veteran, criticized Trump’s administration, stating, “I believe in following the law, and what I've seen shows no respect for law and no respect for the Constitution.”
The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit news organization, covered these events, highlighting the importance of independent journalism in providing fact-based news for Texans.
