So why isn’t Texas following Arizona’s lead?
Gov. Perry, a former Democrat turned Republican, is not inclined to take much action. He talks conservative at election time (this year) but sometimes plays the RINO at other times. Contrast that with how Texas responded to a similar situation in 1859 (Source: the State Gazette newspaper of Austin, Texas in the November 12, 1859, issue):
Affairs on the Rio Grande
We are informed by friends from the Rio Grande, that at last dates, Cortenas [a Mexican bandit] was on this side of the Rio Grande, with a force variously estimated at from two to six hundred; that he had complete control of all the country except the city of Brownsville, and this was guarded day and night by the citizens.His parties are scouring the country, robbing and destroying property and farms and residences of the American population. That he has destroyed Nealsville, and had stolen 150 beeves from different owners. That the life of an American citizen is unsafe outside of Brownsville, and not very safe within it. That the American families had fled for protection to Matamoras in Mexico, and that the company of Mexican troops was still in Fort Brown [in Brownsville] giving a protectorate to Texas. They are subsisted by the citizens of Brownsville, whose Committee of Safety raised the means by private subscription. The U.S. Mail still continues to be rifled, except the New Orleans mail, which is now sent to Brownsville via Matamoras in Mexican territory.
We think the United States ought to be concerned in breaking up these brigands and outlaws in view of their attacks upon the mail if not for the lives and property of Texians. ...
The Texas government then sent Texas Rangers to South Texas under a fire breathing old Texas Ranger captain, John Salmon R.I.P. Ford. Ford chased Cortenas back into Mexico, followed him across the border, and beat Cortenas in battle in Mexico.