Secessionism, as it pertains to the U.S., is a dangerous, frightening, unconstitutional and counterproductive solution to our current political differences and tensions. That hasn’t stopped a secessionist movement from brewing in Texas in recent years as well as in 11 other states — including the most populous one, California! Some of these states want to merge with other states and others want to pack their bags and ditch the U.S. altogether. Nevertheless, all these states’ secessionist movements have been gaining an alarming amount of steam, especially after the results of the latest election, which saw 10 pro-secession Republicans elected to the Texas state legislature.
California is arguably the political antithesis to Trump’s policies. It’s safe to say that Trump and California have had their fair share of disagreements. California filed 123 lawsuits in defense of various programs like DACA and clean air against Trump during his first term and is likely to file more during his second term. The tensions over health care and abortion have only added gasoline to the already raging fire, especially after the Trump administration blocked clinics and providers that offer patients abortion services from receiving federal family planning dollars in 2019. Not to mention civil rights, immigration and climate change, concerning which California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom called a special session to try and come up with lawsuits to block Trump’s agenda. However, many Californians don’t think these resistances are enough. A 2017 Reuters/Ipsos poll showed 32% of Californians support secession, better known as Calexit, from the U.S. That was six years ago! Imagine how many more supporters will be clamoring for secession today now that Roe v. Wade has been struck down and Medicare’s in a tighter spot! The U.S. losing California would be a huge hit to its economy and population. Over 39 million people call California home and its GDP is $3.9 trillion, which is larger than India’s, the most populated country in the world. We simply cannot afford that kind of exodus, especially to our taxes.
We simply cannot afford that kind of exodus, especially to our taxes.
The fact that secession in a large state like California is gaining traction could potentially give rise to secession here in Texas, too, another exodus the U.S. cannot afford to lose either, but for different reasons. Texas and the Biden administration have been conflicting over how to guard the border, with Biden believing in more open-border policies while Texas favors tighter borders. Tensions rose so high that Gov. Greg Abbott effectively gave the U.S. Border Patrol the finger and stationed the Texas National Guard along a 2.5-mile section of the border town of Eagle Pass.
Biden’s other immigration policies, such as a 100-day deportation moratorium for most noncitizens in the United States, have also faced blowback from Texas leaders. To add salt to the wound, Texas has been bussing up to 100,000 migrants from the border to Democrat-led cities like Chicago and Denver. Biden, Democrat-controlled cities and Texas have butted heads significantly these past couple of years and the Biden administration’s failed attempts to keep immigration enforcement under federal jurisdiction have only reinforced these emotions.
In a twist of irony, Texas has used the U.S. Constitution to justify its border choices, specifically Article 1, Section 10, Clause 3, which allows states to conduct foreign policy and engage in war without consent of Congress if they are “actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay.” However, legal scholars are contesting the claim, saying this will water down the constitutional threshold for what constitutes an invasion. Add to these immigration squabbles the past history of Texas being its own country and the 10 newly-elected legislators who have committed to opening a referendum on seceding from the U.S., These 10 legislators comprise only about 1/18th of the total state legislature, but that’s 10 more than the previous session presented just last year in March 2023! Most likely, this will lead to pro-secessionist politicians seizing more power and resources to stoke the fires of pro-secessionist citizens, who will most likely elect more pro-secessionist politicians, thereby continuing this doom loop until the by-then majority pro-secessionist Texas Legislature can strongarm the entire Texas government, and voila! You’ve got the recipe for an impetus to a bleak, bloodthirsty secession.
Remember the last time we tried to secede: the Civil War? You know, those four years in American history every eighth grader learned about when roughly 2% of the population died gruesome deaths and numerous cities, including Atlanta and Richmond, were obliterated? Americans back then probably thought that when the Confederates surrendered that we would stay united and our ideological troubles would largely be gone. Yet, about 160 years later, we still feel the effects of that Confederate sentiment. It didn’t die like we thought it would. The sentiment simply hid itself under the guise of states’ rights and a jingoistic adherence to heritage. Despite its military loss, the ideology of the Confederacy would live on within the institutions and monuments of the U.S. It is a sentiment that has never truly been hidden, and in recent years it has reared its vicious head over and over again. That sentiment rose when James Alex Fields, Jr. plowed his Challenger into the peaceful protesters of the Unite the Right rally and again 53 minutes after noon on a wintry Jan. 6 day in the nation’s capital. Who’s to say something like this won’t happen again once California or Texas secedes — maybe even right here at UTD?
Despite its military loss, the ideology of the Confederacy would live on within the institutions and monuments of the U.S. It is a sentiment that has never truly been hidden, and in recent years it has reared its vicious head over and over again
Not every secessionist movement is bad. Sometimes, a government’s actions can become so oppressive and aloof against a certain group of people that secession is compulsory to maintain the life, liberty and self-determination of these people. History has proven this. After all, what was the creation of India, the Spanish American Wars of Independence, or even our very own American Revolution? However, Texas’ secession movement is not one of those movements. The federal government, with its many flaws, is not so oppressive to the point where it is necessary and beneficial for Texas to secede.
The U.S. has lots of domestic quarrels and disagreements, but secessionism is not the answer. If you’re presented with the Texas Independence Referendum Act, also known as the TEXIT referendum which has been going around, do not sign it. If you’re voting for the Texas legislature, be wary of those who support a secession referendum. As for the politicians, I implore you to debate and present your side of the argument, infusing pragmatism and good faith. I implore you not to censor your opponents, but instead respect and wholeheartedly attempt to understand the opposing side. I implore you to try and come up with legislation that allows for a compromise between differing political ideologies, setting aside the decadent filibuster.