The calls for Texas to defend itself and defy the federal government have set fire to a long-simmering fight over states’ rights, emboldening right-wing figures.
Daniel Miller felt encouraged last week, as fears of a new civil war trended online and a coalition of powerful Republicans coalesced behind Gov. Greg Abbott’s standoff with the Biden administration.
As the longtime leader of Texas’ unlikely secessionist movement, Miller has for decades argued that the state is in a stranglehold by the federal government that, eventually, would prompt enough popular support for a vote to leave the union. The past week only reinforced that belief.
"It validates and confirms the position we’ve had all along, which is that if Texas ever wants to truly secure its border … the only way we’re going to do it is as an independent and self-governing nation,” Miller said in an interview.
At issue is the 47-acre Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, where Texas has for months been laying concertina wire along the Rio Grande to prevent migrants from crossing. In a 5-4 decision early last week, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the Biden administration, allowing U.S. Border Patrol agents to cut the wire to apprehend people who had crossed the river.
The narrowly written decision — which didn’t speak to whether the state had to stop laying new concertina wire — has emboldened Abbott, who vowed to continue his fight against the high court and federal government, citing Texas’ right to defend itself from what he claims is an “invasion” of migrants.
By week’s end — and as the Texas National Guard and state troopers continued to roll out wire and stifle federal agents’ access to much of the park — Abbott’s defiant calls were backed by 25 Republican governors, former President Donald Trump, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and nearly all of Texas’ congressional delegation.
Can we realistically move everybody who wishes to remain a US citizen? Who pays for their move?
What about all of the federal government employees, including military, who currently live and work in the state?
This kind of thing would probably take months just for physical moving of households and I wonder if we even have the throughput to get this accomplished before whatever arbitrary succession date.
No matter figuring out what happens to everybody paying into federal services such as social security and Medicare. The fed will laugh in the face of anybody trying to claim back 20 years of taxes because they aren’t using a system they paid into. 20 million or so taxpayers who decide to secede will have to just give up what they’ve invested.
All the 5 major cities of Texas, where most people live, are blue. Moving everyone would probably mean only the rural folk will remain.
Texas will not cede its land. Those cities will remain under the care of Texas. That means the people who don’t wish to remain Texans must move.
There’s no way that Texas will allow independent or US-aligned havens within its borders. Have you read what their legislators have said about sanctuary cities?
Exactly. It’ll suck to be a sane person in their new country, and I’d expect everyone who can to emigrate to the US or Mexico.
And that’s a problem because…?
As with all such situations, those who want to move are responsible for their own financing.
Whoever moves would pay for themselves.
The government would pull out and relocate offices.
Texas would no longer receive imports like foods and supplies.
This is fucking stupid. Fuck around and find out. It will end in Texas crawling back and apologizing.
Let’s say you have 100k federal and military employees in Texas. Are you suggesting that they just up and move on their own dime, when joint travel regulations and US code do not allow for this?
Again, the government would pull out and not pay for their move?
It largely is not the place for the federal government to micromanage trade outside of certain “national security” line items and some sanctions. It’s a lot harder to sell sanctions on your former neighbors to the international community, let alone your own legislators.
I get the zeal, but a clean secession sucks for everybody and in no way does anybody come out on top. This is without accounting for any violence or armed conflict over disputed items like military bases, national guard posts, defense contractors like Boeing and Lockheed, and energy production facilities.
Yes
No, government people usually get paid for relocation AFAIK.
You are correct.
You are correct.
Fair questions and all irrelevant. Emigration/immigration happens every day. We already know how to handle all of this. We also have historical examples in the creation of European, African, and Asian states during the 20th century. Just within the last few decades, we have the collapse of the USSR, the creation of South Sudan, and Brexit. It can be done.