Jason Smith: I'm proud President Trump is trying to restore law and order

(From Eighth District Congressman Jason Smith)

Across America, our nation’s law enforcement officers have a tough job. Whether it’s a small-town sheriff, a state highway patrolman or an officer enforcing our nation’s immigration laws, these men and women have the solemn responsibility of making sure the laws our society agrees on are faithfully and fairly enforced. 

They put their lives on the line every single day to protect our communities —making sacrifices most of us will never fully understand. But radical leftist politicians and activists are actively working to create a more dangerous, pro-crime environment that undermines our brave law enforcement officers and makes criminals out to be heroes.

After four years of policies that allowed open borders for illegal immigrants to flood into America and encouraged the defunding of law enforcement, President Donald Trump put a stop to lawlessness, insisted on the rule of law, and made our cities safe again. In recent days, however, we’ve seen leftist protestors once again turn a downtown into a war zone simply because they disagree with the president’s policies. In Minneapolis, an ICE agent carrying out a lawful federal immigration enforcement operation was involved in a deadly encounter with a protestor who was trying to obstruct the officer’s lawful enforcement operation. Using that as an excuse, we have seen radical leftist politicians in the state call for an end to immigration enforcement; far-left activists attack officers and riot in the streets; and far-left commentators fanning the flames of violence. President Trump is entirely justified in considering calling in the National Guard to restore peace to the streets.

Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated incident. ICE officers have particularly been put in harm’s way as these radicals try to disrupt the president’s agenda at every turn. In Alvarado, Texas on July 4, left-wing protestors ambushed law enforcement officers at an ICE detention facility and shot an officer in the neck. In September, a sniper opened fire on a Dallas ICE office, killing one and wounding others. It’s entirely reasonable that officers don’t see protestors acting aggressively as peaceful; they know their lives are on the line with some of these very same individuals.

Speaking out against policies you disagree with is a fundamental American right. But threatening, encouraging, or carrying out violence has no place in our society. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz described his efforts as “fight[ing] a war against the federal government.” Congresswoman Ilhan Omar described the officer’s actions — in which he was hit by a car and suffered internal bleeding — as murder. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey held a press conference where he declared that ICE should “get the f*** out of Minneapolis.” These radical statements and actions deserve to be condemned, but instead the Left is celebrating these statements.

I’m proud that President Trump is trying to restore law and order. Here in Missouri and across the nation, we take care of our law enforcement. We condemn violence and threats against those sworn to protect us. Law enforcement officers are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, neighbors and friends. They deserve our gratitude — not our contempt — for facing danger so that we can live in peace. I will always stand for our men and women in uniform, and for safe communities.