In cities like Portland and Chicago, lawlessness isn’t just tolerated — it’s politically protected. Violent mobs, often aligned with Antifa, have attacked federal facilities, assaulted ICE agents, and targeted conservative journalists. And instead of working with federal law enforcement to restore order, local leaders have chosen confrontation over cooperation.
In Chicago, ICE agents were boxed in by protestors outside the Broadview Processing Center. Vehicles were used as weapons, and federal officers were physically assaulted. When ICE called for backup, the Chicago Police Department was reportedly ordered not to respond. Alderman Anthony Napolitano, a former police officer, called it “the most disgusting act” he’s seen in 25 years. Yet Mayor Brandon Johnson — who recently insanely claimed Republicans want to reopen the Civil War — has refused to condemn the violence or support federal agents. That statement alone is historically illiterate and morally repugnant. The Republican Party was founded to oppose slavery and preserve the Union. It was Republican leadership that won the Civil War and abolished slavery. To twist that legacy into a partisan insult is not only wrong — it’s dangerous.
This isn’t just political dysfunction. It’s a constitutional crisis. Under Article II of the U.S. Constitution, the President is charged with executing federal law and protecting federal property. The Insurrection Act of 1807 further empowers the President to deploy federal troops — including the National Guard — when local authorities fail to maintain order. Presidents from both parties have used this authority: Eisenhower in Little Rock to protect the rights of young Black students, Kennedy in Mississippi to protect Black college students, and George H.W. Bush during the L.A. riots to protect the city from violence. It’s not a partisan tool — it’s a constitutional safeguard. The Act has been used by presidents of both parties in moments of crisis, typically to enforce federal law or protect civil rights when local governments failed to act.
The idea that federal intervention is somehow unconstitutional is absurd. The same politicians who cry “states’ rights” when federal agents defend themselves are the first to impose federal mandates when it suits their agenda — banning gas-powered appliances, overriding parental rights, and forcing experimental vaccines on millions of Americans. During the pandemic, Americans were told they couldn’t work, travel, or even enter restaurants without proof of vaccination — all under federal pressure. But when federal agents are under siege by violent mobs, suddenly the federal government is accused of overreach.
If the federal government can regulate your stove, it can protect its own agents from violent mobs.
Let’s not forget Portland, where Antifa-led violence has become routine. Federal courthouses were firebombed, ICE facilities besieged, and conservative journalists like Andy Ngo were brutally attacked. Local leaders refused to cooperate with federal law enforcement, and in some cases, actively obstructed their efforts. Portland Police were accused of standing down, and federal officers were left to defend themselves against organized, violent mobs.
This refusal to cooperate isn’t just a failure of leadership — it’s a betrayal of public safety. Cities that reject federal help during moments of crisis are choosing ideology over lives. They’re signaling that political theater matters more than protecting citizens, law enforcement, and federal personnel.
And the consequences are real. Chicago continues to suffer from rampant crime. Every weekend brings a new wave of shootings, carjackings, and gang violence. Portland has seen businesses flee, downtown districts hollowed out, and residents living in fear. These aren’t isolated incidents — they’re systemic failures.
The Constitution gives the President the tools to act. When federal agents are attacked, when federal property is under siege, and when local leaders refuse to act, the President must step in. That’s not tyranny — it’s duty.
We’ve seen what responsible federal-local partnerships can achieve. After 9/11, joint terrorism task forces became models of cooperation. During natural disasters, FEMA and local emergency services coordinate seamlessly. There’s no reason we can’t apply that same model to urban unrest. But it requires local leaders who are willing to put public safety above politics.
Unfortunately, in cities like Chicago and Portland, that willingness is in short supply.
The American people deserve better. They deserve leaders who prioritize safety, respect the rule of law, and understand that federal support isn’t a threat — it’s a lifeline. The refusal to accept help, the demonization of federal agents, and the normalization of mob violence must end.
If we want to restore order, we need to restore accountability. And that starts with recognizing that federal intervention — when used lawfully and responsibly — isn’t just necessary. It’s constitutional. It’s historical. And in cities that have chosen chaos, it may be the only path back to sanity.
George Landrith is the President of the Frontiers of Freedom Institute and the author of “Let Freedom Ring… Again: Can Self-Evident Truths Save America from Further Decline?”
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