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Over the past week, Telegram channels affiliated with Salafi jihadi and Iran-backed militias in Iraq discussed the border crisis in the United States, highlighting the recent developments related to the Texas Governor Greg Abbott's decision to oppose the federal administration's authority at the U.S.-Mexico border to stop the influx of migrants.
On January 26, 2024, the pro-Islamic State (ISIS) Bariqah News Agency posted on Telegram a statement, issued January 24 by Texas Governor Abbot, in which he accused President Joe Biden of refusing to enforce the law and ignoring Texas's demand that the president perform his constitutional duties to stop immigrants from crossing the border into the United States.[1]
Commenting on the news, the channel wrote: "Texas state has officially entered a state of war."
On January 27, Walid Al-Haj, who identifies himself as an ex-Guantanamo prisoner, shared a post on his Telegram channel celebrating what he described as the "secession" of Texas from the United States.[2]
He wrote: "Peoples' choice to secede must be respected and support should be extended to Texas."
Mocking the administration of President Joe Biden, he added, "And I call on President Biden to exercise self-control and leave the Texan people the freedom and the right to self-determination. Long live free and proud Texas."
He concluded his post by arguing that "the secession of Texas is the beginning of the collapse of the rest of the United States of America, by Allah's willing."
"The Syrian Researcher," a Syrian jihadi Telegram channel, had a similar take. The Syrian Researcher posted, on January 26, two videos showing what it claimed to be "2500 trucks carrying volunteers and armed men from southern states who arrived in Texas to stand up against the possible entry of U.S. federal forces, and to support the Texas National Guard on the border."[3]
The post concluded by writing, "Will a civil war take place? By Allah, we hope so."
On January 29, Aseel News, a Telegram channel linked to Iran-backed militias in Iraq, argued that the tension between Texas and Washington was the beginning of a civil war. It posted a photo showing "Texas National Guard forces removing the U.S. flag and raising only the flag of Texas."[4]
Commenting on it, the Telegram channel said that Texas was a new republic in progress, adding: "The zero hour has begun, and war looms on the horizon."
Unit 10000, a Telegram channel linked to Iraqi militias, shared a similar photo, with a caption that reads: "The state of Texas raises the flag of independence from America, and the leader of the the 'Just Russia' Party says: 'We will recognize the People's Republic of Texas.'"[5]
Sabereen News also commented on the raising of the Texas flag, wishing for further escalation of tension between Texas and the federal government. On Janurary 28, Sabereen News wrote: "We call on both parties to exercise restraint and never give up on these demands, no matter the cost."[6]
[1] Telegram, January 26, 2024.
[2] Telegram, January 27, 2024.
[3] Telegram, January 26, 2024.
[4] Telegram, January 29, 2024.
[5] Telegram, January 28, 2024.
[6] Telegram, January 28, 2024.
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