Thousands of people are expected to protest across Texas this weekend as part of a coordinated wave of protests against the Trump administration's immigration policies.
More than 60 rallies were planned across Texas on Saturday as part of "No Kings Day," a nationally-coordinated protest timed to President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. Organizers say the effort is aimed at pushing back against what they characterize as authoritarian and anti-democratic ambitions tied to Trump, including his mass deportation plan.
Gov. Greg Abbott preemptively deployed thousands of Texas National Guard troops and Department of Public Safety officers across the state ahead of the protests to "maintain law and order." According to the event's website, nearly 1,000 demonstrations are scheduled nationwide this weekend alone.
A large crowd is expected outside Houston City Hall on Saturday morning, with additional demonstrations planned throughout the day in nearby suburbs. Earlier this week, Houston Mayor John Whitmire pushed back on claims that riots were being planned in cities across the country, including Houston.
"We have a great city, and we encourage people to express their views, and we respect their views," Whitmire said.
The protest follows a Friday night rally outside a Houston-area ICE detention center, organized by the grassroots group For Families and Their Education, or FIEL. Hundreds marched peacefully, chanting "you are not alone" and "shut it down," in response to recent arrests of people without legal status following court appearances.
In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, demonstrators will begin gathering at noon — just days after police declared a Monday evening protest in Dallas an unlawful assembly and fired pepper balls into the crowd. One person was arrested during Monday's demonstration. At the same time, a separate rally is planned in El Paso, where dozens gathered outside a federal courthouse on Wednesday holding signs that read "ICE out of El Paso" and "silence is compliance."
El Paso spokesperson Laura Cruz-Acosta told The Texas Newsroom on Friday that city officials were "monitoring planned local demonstrations in coordination with local law enforcement and other public safety partners to support peaceful expression and maintain public order."
"We're committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community," she added.
Later in the day, a protest is set to take place in front of the Texas Capitol in Austin. Texas House Democratic Chair Gene Wu of Houston, who helped organize the rally, said the event was about more than immigration raids. He pointed to broader frustrations among Texans over issues like Medicaid cuts and the state's proposed THC ban.
"We are happy to support Texans who have simply had enough," Wu said.
The rally follows a protest at the Capitol on Monday, where more than a dozen people were arrested after demonstrators tore down construction barriers and vandalized a federal building with anti-Trump graffiti.
As protesters rally in Austin, hundreds more are expected to gather in San Antonio Saturday evening. The demonstration follows a protest held in the city Wednesday night. The San Antonio Police Department confirmed that National Guard troops were sent to the area earlier in the week but declined to provide additional details. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg called for calm, while criticizing federal immigration actions as "crude" and "cruel."
Contributors to this story include The Texas Newsroom's Blaise Gainey, KUT's Luz Moreno-Lozano and Chelsey Zhu, KERA's Penelope Rivera and James Hartley and Houston Public Media's Dominic Anthony Walsh.
This is a developing story.
Copyright 2025 KERA