Anthony Iafrate is with the Daily Caller News Foundation
President Donald Trump stated Saturday his administration will not intervene in the intensifying protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement occurring in Democratic-run cities — unless the cities’ leaders ask it to.
The president wrote in a lengthy Saturday afternoon post to Truth Social that he instructed Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Kristi Noem — who oversees both Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol — “under no circumstances are we going to participate in various poorly run Democrat Cities with regard to their Protests and/or Riots unless, and until, they ask us for help.” Trump went on to clarify that DHS agents will “guard, and very powerfully so, any and all Federal Buildings that are being attacked by these highly paid Lunatics, Agitators, and Insurrectionists.”
“Please be aware that I have instructed ICE and/or Border Patrol to be very forceful in this protection of Federal Government Property,” the president continued. He also stated that, if necessary, the military could be dispatched to protect federal buildings and property.
“There will be no spitting in the faces of our Officers, there will be no punching or kicking the headlights of our cars, and there will be no rock or brick throwing at our vehicles, or at our Patriot Warriors,” he emphasized. “If there is, those people will suffer an equal, or more, consequence.”
Trump went on to stress that each individual city and state which is home to a protest has the responsibility to protect their “own State and Local Property,” in addition to the “obligation” to protect “Federal Property, Buildings, Parks, and everything else.”
“We are there to protect Federal Property, only as a back up, in that it is Local and State Responsibility to do so. Last night in Eugene, Oregon, these criminals broke into a Federal Building, and did great damage, also scaring and harassing the hardworking employees. Local Police did nothing in order to stop it,” the president wrote, referring to an incident which took place Friday night.
“We will not let that happen anymore! If Local Governments are unable to handle the Insurrectionists, Agitators, and Anarchists, we will immediately go to the location where such help is requested, and take care of the situation very easily and methodically,” he continued.
“Therefore, to all complaining Local Governments, Governors, and Mayors, let us know when you are ready, and we will be there — But, before we do so, you must use the word, ‘PLEASE,’” Trump added.
Protests and riots against federal immigration officers and the Trump administration’s deportation policies have taken place throughout the president’s second term. The current wave of chaos, however, ramped up following the fatal January shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, by ICE and Border Patrol agents, respectively.
District Judge Katherine M. Menendez, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, rejected the requests of Minnesota and the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul to remove federal immigration enforcement from the state Saturday.
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