Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has issued a stinging ultimatum to Portland’s Democratic Mayor, pressing for urgent measures to quell the aggressive protests surrounding the city’s ICE facility, or risk an influx of federal agents.
During her appearance with Jesse Watters, Noem lamented her recent discussions with local law enforcement and the mayor, where she stipulated the need for an expanded security perimeter, unobstructed streets, and physical safety measures to protect both officers and local residents.
Expressing her dissatisfaction with the mayor’s response, Noem warned him that if Portland fails to take action, she would amplify the federal presence by a factor of four, commanding substantial federal resources to address the ongoing unrest.
She highlighted that federal Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and ICE agents have been integral in detaining violent offenders and maintaining the security of the ICE facility, while local leaders have been absorbed in political maneuvering.
Noem’s frustration with local officials prioritizing perception over public well-being was palpable.
Kristi Noem:
“I met with him and also the superintendent of the state police. I told them what we wanted: more security here at the building, a bigger buffer zone to keep our officers safe. We wanted to have their streets opened up again and not let the anarchists run this city anymore. We asked them to continue to back us up like we’ve been asking for—instead of what they’ve been doing for the last several months, which is just leaving our officers hanging out to dry.The chief asked if I wanted to meet with the mayor, and I said, ‘Absolutely.’ I came back and just met with the mayor, and I’m extremely disappointed. He’s continuing to play politics.
He did not commit to any of those promises and said that he’d give me an answer by tomorrow—and I’m hopeful that he will.
What I told him is that if he did not follow through on some of these security measures for our officers, we were going to cover him up with more federal resources. We were going to send four times the amount of federal officers here so that the people of Portland could have some safety and security.
Today, Jesse, we went and got a sex offender off the streets here in Portland who had been violating minors, and we’re going to bring him to justice. This Portland mayor tried to brag about making our streets safer? No—absolutely not. It is our federal CBP and ICE officers who are cleaning up this city, and every single day, they’re going to stay dedicated to doing that.
Did any of these officials thank us for getting these pedophiles off the street? They said they were glad that was happening, but that they weren’t going to change their posture.
Here’s the deal, Jesse: they’re more scared of the anarchists down on the street right now—yelling horrible, horrific threats at our officers—than they are of the officers or the people who live in this city. Right next to this building is an apartment complex filled with people who deserve to be able to come in and out of their homes safely.
I asked the mayor, ‘Do you get to go home at night and walk from your car into your building safely? Do you get to drive to work and be safe while you do that?’ I said, ‘Those people don’t get that opportunity.’
Jim Hᴏft is the founder and editor of The Gateway Pundit, one of the top conservative news outlets in America. Jim was awarded the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award in 2013 and is the proud recipient of the Breitbart Award for Excellence in Online Journalism from the Americans for Prosperity Foundation in May 2016.
You can email Jim Hᴏft here, and read more of Jim Hᴏft’s articles here.