The Growing Call for “Texit”

Texas has again found itself at the epicenter of a dumb and deeply divisive debate, centered around the state’s relationship with the federal government. The right-wing MAGA party is pushing brutal immigration policies and border control to the point where we are back in front of the succession door once again. All hail Lubbock.

The issue reached a boiling point following the Supreme Court’s decision (Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, and Beer-Me-Bro Kavanaugh dissented.) to allow federal agencies to dismantle parts of a razor-wire barrier erected by Texas along the Mexico border. This decision, coming in a tight 5 to 4 vote, has ignited a fierce reaction among many Texans, who view this as an encroachment upon the state’s right to self-defense and governance.

The US Supreme Court allows US Border Patrol to remove razor wire in Texas along the Rio Grande. The decision is part of an ongoing legal and physical dispute over border security measures. The removal of the razor wire is at the heart of negotiations on border control and immigration policy discussions with the Biden administration.

The Supreme Court’s ruling serves as a flash point in a long-simmering conflict between the state and federal authorities, stirring up all the MAGA crazies in Texas to advocate for secession, popularly referred to as “Texit”.

This sentiment isn’t just a fringe outcry because MAGA is so deeply ingrained in Texan society, including political figures, social media influencers, and grassroots movements like the Texas Nationalist Movement (TNM). These groups argue that the federal government’s actions, or inaction, particularly regarding border security, represent a breach of Texas’ sovereignty and constitutional rights.

Governor Greg Abbott, always a central figure when racist bullsh*t is trending out of Texas, has been vocal and assertive in his stance against the federal government’s immigration policies. Abbott has taken unprecedented steps, such as launching “Operation Lone Star” and installing razor wire and saw blades in the Rio Grande, to curb illegal immigration—a move that reflects the state’s deeply xenophobic character while trying to assert authority and fill what it perceives as a void left by federal inaction.

This backdrop again stirs up the same tired debate, not just about immigration and border control but about the broader themes of state sovereignty, federal overreach, and the very nature of the union that constitutes the United States of America.

F’ing Texas again.

The Escalation

The Supreme Court’s ruling did not just stir discontent; it escalated the situation to new heights, moving an ideological battle into action. Abbott’s directive to the Texas National Guard to defend the barbed wire fence, defying the Supreme Court’s ruling, marks a big and potentially dangerous step in the standoff between Texas and the federal government.

This move, backed by 25 Republican governors and regurgitated by blue checks and right-wing political commentators, reflects a growing willingness to challenge federal authority, even to the point of pushing secession.

The situation is made further absurd on what exactly “Texit” would entail. While some Good O’l Boys™ view it as a legitimate and necessary step towards preserving their, yeee haw, state rights and self-governance, most people predict massive economic, legal, and logistical challenges. An independent Texas poses numerous unknown threats to national security and unity, from the loss of federal funding for education, healthcare, and infrastructure to the possible take over of military bases.

The debate around secession is not just a matter of practicality but also of legality and constitutionality. The precedent set by Texas v. White, coupled with the historical context of the Civil War, poses a big o’l legal barrier to any secessionist movement. But, the proponents of “Texit” seem undeterred, driven by a conviction that the state’s right to self-governance and defense, as they interpret it, supersedes all legal constraints.

As this story unfolds, it’s clear that the standoff is not merely a Texas issue but a national one, raising already settled questions about the balance of power between state and federal authorities, the interpretation of the constitution, and the future of the American union. (Spoiler: the American union isn’t changing any time soon.)

The Path Forward

We all are at a critical juncture with Texas and the sociopathic MAGA governors. While the movement has gained momentum and visibility, it mainly dominates the right-wing media cycles. The Fox News acolytes want a full-scale deployment of the Texas National Guard and continued support from multiple (R) state governors.

Fun fact: The chief of the National Guard Bureau reports to each state governor, but also up to the federal National Guard Bureau, which is part of the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, and is led by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, reporting to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Biden can pull the plug on any Texas National Guard illegality at any time.

The Texas Supreme Court rejected a request from the Texas Nationalist Movement (TNM) to intervene after the group’s ballot measure for Texas secession was denied by Republican Party officials. The TNM, which had gathered over 139,000 signatures, sought to place a question on the primary ballot asking if Texas should become an independent nation. The party leaders argued the signatures were submitted late and questioned their validity.

There is really no end in sight to the “Texas Problem” now that 25 more MAGA governors have jumped onto the crazy train. Sadly, what is (purposely) missing in all this excitement about succession, is the acknowledgement about the lives lost in the migration of people from countries the US has systematically made unlivable over the last century.

The focus should be on how to help people relocate and integrate, with migrants and the US both benefiting. There is vast space in the US economy for migrant labor participation if the majority of the US population was not so brutally against the education and employment of migrants, simply due to fearmongering and hate, broadcast in the media on endless repeat.