Their cause has been helped by a surge in tensions between Texan authorities and the federal government over the past few months, particularly over illegal migration and education.

On its official website the Texas Nationalist Movement (TNM), which campaigns for the state to leave the Union in a move it dubs TEXIT, said: "The inclusion of these planks in the Republican Party of Texas Platform is a major step that could have far-reaching implications for the TEXIT movement in the next legislative session."

Newsweek contacted Texas Governor Greg Abbott for comment on Wednesday by email outside of usual business hours.

The Republican Party of Texas first backed calls for an independence referendum as part of its legislative platform in 2022, after it was approved by members at its convention that year in Houston.

In January the Supreme Court ruled razor wire placed along the Texas-Mexico border on the orders of Governor Abbott could be removed by federal agents.

Then in May, Governor Abbott instructed universities and community colleges in his state to ignore an update to Title IX equality legislation introduced by the Biden administration which would ban discrimination based on gender identity.

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