Texas Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said Thursday the FBI has granted his request to assist Texas law enforcement in locating House Democrats who fled the state, setting up a potential confrontation with Illinois Democratic officials who have vowed to protect them.

Texas House Democrats were evacuated from their Illinois hotel Wednesday due to a bomb threat. In a statement, Texas House Democrats said they are safe and “undeterred.” A group of Democratic state lawmakers has been staying in Illinois after leaving Texas to deny Texas House Republicans a quorum to vote on new congressional maps that

Texas Democrats staying in Illinois after fleeing the state in opposition of Republican-led redistricting effort were evacuated from their hotel over a bomb threat, local law enforcement said on Wednesday.