Federal agents, including members of the Department of Homeland Security, the Border Patrol and police, clash with protesters outside a downtown U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Oct. 4, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Schmitt said he is "very thankful for the men and women who are serving this country, who are protecting those agents, who are protecting federal assets. And the president's well within his authority to do it."
Earlier in his remarks, Schmitt told lawmakers, "You have the L.A., sort of Portland scenario, where Antifa, in particular, which is now thankfully been designated not only as a domestic terrorist organization, but a foreign terrorist organization because of their tactics."
"The fact is, this is a network decentralized that has safe houses and financing across the world, including the United States, who wants to do harm to ICE agents. And so what I don't hear a lot from my Democrat colleagues -- they might condemn the violence, but what's telling is you don't hear any of them say, stand back and let ICE do their jobs, because the fact is, they just don't actually believe in immigration enforcement," he continued.
WAR ON BADGES: HOUSE GOP TARGETS ANTI-POLICE RHETORIC AMID ICE ATTACKS
Federal law enforcement were captured on video firing pepper balls at anti-ICE protesters in Broadview, Ill., on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. The protesters, at right, are seen trying to block vehicles from leaving the ICE facility. (Fox News)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
"Senator, you just described, many of the tactics that were being used when Title 10 forces were directed into Los Angeles to protect federal activities, to include ICE, conduct of their duties," Guillot said.
Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senator-warns-powder-keg-people-condone-behavior-anti-ice-protesters