What Trump can do in Texas ..... will we be safe?

Yes. The primary mechanism is straightforward federal authority over the border itself. A Democratic governor (in this case, Texas Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa, and similarly the new or continuing Democratic governors in California, Arizona, and New Mexico) cannot unilaterally “open the border.” Immigration enforcement, border control, and related operations are federal responsibilities under the Constitution.

What a governor can and cannot do

• A governor can withdraw state resources that previous Republican governors (especially Greg Abbott in Texas) had committed: state National Guard troops under state control, state troopers, state-funded barriers or operations like Operation Lone Star, and voluntary local law-enforcement cooperation (e.g., ending or limiting 287(g) agreements). They can also pursue sanctuary-style policies and challenge federal actions in court.
• A governor cannot stop federal agents (Border Patrol/CBP, ICE) from operating on the border or in the interior, alter federal immigration law or enforcement priorities, or prevent the federal government from processing, detaining, or removing people under federal statutes. Federal law preempts conflicting state efforts under the Supremacy Clause.

Trump addressed this directly after the election when asked about Hinojosa potentially pulling state manpower: “I’m sure they’ll continue my policy. And if they don’t continue my policy, I will.”

Practical tools available to the President

1. Scale federal enforcement — Direct DHS, Border Patrol, and ICE to maintain or increase personnel, technology, and operations on the border and in the interior. This has been the main driver of the sharp drop in crossings under the current administration and does not depend on state cooperation.
2. Federalize National Guard units or use military support — Statutes such as 10 U.S.C. § 12406 allow the President to call Guard units into federal service (Title 10) under conditions involving invasion, rebellion, or inability to execute federal laws with regular forces. The Insurrection Act provides broader authority in certain circumstances. A governor cannot simply refuse a lawful federalization order (established by Supreme Court precedent such as Perpich). These steps have been used and litigated in 2025–2026; courts review whether the statutory predicates are met.
3. Continue barrier construction and related infrastructure — Existing statutory authority (including IIRIRA waiver powers used by DHS secretaries) supports wall and road projects, subject to ongoing court challenges on specific segments.
4. Litigation and enforcement pressure — The administration can (and has) sued jurisdictions whose policies interfere with federal officers, pursue funding conditions on grants (though courts have blocked many of these), and designate/sanctuary-list jurisdictions that obstruct enforcement.

State legislative changes (e.g., repealing Texas laws requiring certain local cooperation) generally need the legislature, which may limit how quickly a new governor can reverse existing statutes. Hinojosa takes office in January 2027, so any transition occurs while federal operations continue.

In short, the “safety” mechanism is the constitutional and statutory allocation of border and immigration power to the federal government. Withdrawing state assistance creates logistical friction but does not reopen the border if the President directs federal agencies to maintain enforcement.