Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered on Monday the arrest of Democratic lawmakers who left the state to prevent Republicans from having quorum to pass the initiative. State House lawmakers passed a motion allowing the Speaker of the House to issue civil warrants for the arrest of those who did not attend the session.

Texas lawmakers gathered in New York to blast Republicans’ redistricting proposal after more than 50 Texas House Democrats fled the state ahead of a scheduled legislative session on Monday. As the GOP seeks to redraw congressional maps and add as many as five congressional seats in their favor,

Unlike most states, New York delegated redistricting powers to a 10-member bipartisan commission in 2014, under then-Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. The commission draws up maps that can be approved or rejected by the State Legislature. The process was approved by New York voters in a statewide referendum.