President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he is authorizing the “full force” of the U.S. military to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities under attack by far-left groups, including Antifa, and other domestic terrorists.
Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, stating that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has been directed to provide all necessary troops to defend ICE facilities and federal personnel, especially in Portland, Oregon, which has seen repeated violence against agents.
“At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary troops to protect war-ravaged Portland and any of our ICE facilities under siege from attack by Antifa and other domestic terrorists,” Trump wrote. “I am also authorizing full force, if necessary.”
The move comes amid escalating attacks on ICE personnel. Earlier this month, a man fired indiscriminately into an ICE facility in Dallas, Texas, killing one illegal immigrant and critically injuring two others.
Authorities reported that the shooter intended to terrorize ICE agents before taking his own life. Violent demonstrations and targeted assaults have become more common, with federal officers increasingly doxxed and threatened online. Assaults on agents have reportedly risen 830% compared to last year.
Portland has emerged as a focal point for unrest, with federal agents facing repeated harassment and physical attacks, per the Daily Wire.
Protesters recently erected a guillotine outside an ICE facility, an act Secretary Noem described as “unhinged behavior.”
Trump attributed much of the chaos to “professional agitators and anarchists” operating under the guise of protests, further stressing the need for military intervention to maintain law and order.
The president’s authorization reflects growing concern over federal agents’ safety and the escalating boldness of left-wing extremists targeting ICE. Many agents have resorted to covering their faces while performing arrests due to threats, a precaution that has become a point of tension with California’s state government.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) recently signed a law banning ICE agents from masking, which DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized as a “despicable” effort that endangers federal officers.
Despite the law, agency sources confirm that masking will continue, emphasizing that federal personnel are not bound by state-level restrictions.
Trump’s order directs Hegseth and the Department of Defense to coordinate closely with the Department of Homeland Security to secure facilities, prevent further attacks, and ensure the safety of federal officers.
The president’s statements underline the administration’s determination to protect ICE operations amid rising domestic threats.
This deployment marks one of the most direct uses of military authority to shield ICE from domestic unrest in recent years. The decision reflects the administration’s broader push to support federal law enforcement against left-wing aggression, especially in cities where local authorities have struggled to contain violent protests.
With heightened tensions continuing in Portland, Dallas, and other locations, the Trump administration is signaling that attacks on federal personnel will not be tolerated. The full military deployment is intended as a deterrent to further violence, demonstrating a zero-tolerance approach to domestic terrorism targeting ICE.
Federal agents and ICE personnel are expected to receive reinforcements and additional protection measures immediately, ensuring that facilities remain operational and agents can carry out their duties without fear of harassment, injury, or intimidation.
