I make no predictions but I don't currently see this as leading to anything kinetic. The ball is in the federal government's court. So we will see.
On the part of Texas and the other states, the timing seems politically calculated. Thats not to dog Abbott, this has been needed for three+ years. It is to say that no real politically costly decisions have yet been brought before TX or any other red state. I'm glad to see the support the other governors have been providing, but sending some NG troops and resources is not politically costly. These governors have not (yet) given indication that they are willing to take bold and costly measures in the preservation of national security, or of liberty. So while this has the potential to escalate, as of now it does not seem like the beginnings of a kinetic conflict.
What I do hope it is the beginning of is states taking stronger measures to reassert and hold the line on their sovereignty, particularly their sovereign rights under Article 10. We will need more of this sort of thing to weather the next three to seven years.
True, it's not exactly a point of no return yet, but my point is that this particular exchange could become the catalyst. However, bold defiance of the SCOTUS and federal efforts in a state's own self defense is cold lawfare heating up.
A politically costly move may be to begin making arrests by either side, or rather the order to do so.
As I understand it, SCOTUS temporarily allowed the admin to continue cutting wire while the case continues litigation in lower courts. Technically Texas can keep building and has Constitutional authority to block federal workers from accessing the wire. I do not know what precisely is happening on the ground.
Arrests would certainly step things up a bit! I'm certainly in favor of cold lawfare over hot warfare.
As I see it, even if TX keeps putting up wire and the feds keep cutting wires, the presence of all those blockaids and NG troops is probably enough to deter most from crossing there. Which is good. And I don't think there is any order against TX detaining migrants and sending them back if they do cross there. Could be wrong.
Stopping illegal immigration is easy as pie... If you choose to employ, house, cloth, or feed any illegal immigrate it will be considered adding and abetting a felony (breaking into the country is a felony last time I checked). Jail every employer that hires them and every Satanist NGO that traffics them (especially the Catholic and Luthern church).
I am very sure the Catholic Church itself is not trafficking, but I would not be surprised to hear some crazy Susan from the Parish Council has been misappropriating parish funds to help smuggle humans. I can't speak for Protestant organizations, though.
No, the Catholic church is fundamental in the organization of migrants through Mexico and into the United States. They provide material care, transportation, health care, housing, monetary aid, and legal services to the aliens that cross the US Border illegally. If that doesn't constitute human trafficking, then nothing does.
The Catholic Church itself is far to wide an organization, just from a mere organizational view, for the whole to be in on the deal. It has a sixth of the global population, or thereabouts in its membership. I am the first to say there's corruption needing to be carved out like cancer, and you might be able to point to dioceses, maybe bishop's conferences, to be in on it, but you can't say the whole of the global Church is.
I would also rather cold over hot law- or warfare, but I also see that path toward escalation even through lawfare, like the arrests I suggested might be a "next step".
At some point, the adding versus cutting wire will come to an end. I don't see it becoming a ceremonial quasi-offence like the dispute over the little island between Canada and Greenland (Hans Island, if you're wondering). Someone will put the foot down and begin making arrests (I see either party doing this), or will give up and comply (I really don't see Texas rolling over for the Feds).