Mary Rooke Commentary and Analysis Writer
The federal government and state elected Democrats are in a persistent local-federal clash over lawlessness and illegal immigration. If Democrats continue to obstruct the Trump administration, they risk escalation into broader violence, endangering lives.
There are clear connections between the news emerging from Portland and Chicago. Both cities have seen intensified anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protests in recent weeks, often turning violent and targeting federal immigration facilities.
This is domestic terrorism and seditious insurrection. https://t.co/OC5AHASjFC
— Stephen Miller (@StephenM) October 4, 2025
In Portland, ongoing demonstrations outside the ICE building have included arson attempts, assaults on agents and property damage, which prompted the federal government to board up windows. Portland police have largely ignored left-wing violence, including against a journalist who was brutally attacked by an alleged member of Antifa and another journalist who was reportedly defending himself against a mob when police arrested him.
Democrats, who largely control Portland and the rest of the state of Oregon, have chosen to side with violent rioters. Portland city officials even issued a land use violation against the federal government Sept. 18 for fortifying ICE facilities during violent attacks. Even Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed on to a lawsuit attempting to prevent the California National Guard from deploying in Portland. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut ruled the National Guard deployment would violate constitutional limits on military involvement in domestic law enforcement. (Sign up for Mary Rooke’s weekly newsletter here!)
Similarly, Democrat Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker sued the Trump administration to block the deployment of state National Guard troops in Chicago, and Mayor Brandon Johnson has issued an executive order (EO) barring ICE from using city-owned facilities. This came after protests escalated over ICE’s presence in Chicago, including a terrifying moment when Chicago police failed to act as anti-ICE activists allegedly rammed ICE vehicles during an enforcement operation. Federal agents were forced to defend themselves against a woman who was allegedly armed with a semi-automatic weapon.
This morning, during routine patrolling in Broadview, in the same area of Chicago that law enforcement were assaulted yesterday, our brave law enforcement officers were rammed by vehicles and boxed in by 10 cars.
Agents were unable to move their vehicles and exited the car. One…
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) October 4, 2025
Democrats are trying to frame these escalations as actions that defend against federal overreach, citing concerns over brutality and due process. But at what end?
Americans are increasingly recognizing there is a direct connection between Democrats and violence. They are excusing the potentially deadly actions of their radical left-wing base in an attempt to prevent the Trump administration from deporting violent criminals. To continue obstructing the federal government and allowing the rioters to have free rein over their cities is only driving this narrative home for regular Americans exhausted by the violence.
Additionally, if Democrats continue to perceive obstructions as “wins,” it might encourage more aggressive radical activism, like doxxing or assaults on agents, who are trained (very well) to use deadly force to defend themselves. Is this what Democrats want? Surely they aren’t hoping for deadly shootouts in American cities. Still, that is where this will end if the lawlessness from the left continues without reprimand, because any obstruction (not just from Democrats) during crises can have lethal consequences if it hampers response efforts. (ROOKE: Gen Z Divorces Are Just As Abnormal As You’d Expect: No Shame, Quick Splits, And ‘Queer Solidarity’)
President Donald Trump has been very clear that the federal government is not going to allow a redo of 2020, where left-wing rioters burned down cities and attacked federal agents and property without accountability. He has instructed federal agents to defend themselves against attacks. If Democrats continue down this path, these potentially deadly escalations could become the norm.
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