Being on a personal retreat this week gave me the rare opportunity to glance at programs some watch but I rarely see.
The View and certain cable offerings focused on whipping up hysteria about what could be a “coming civil war in America over an authoritarian president interfering with states because of escalating crime and the immigration policy.”
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The blockbuster issue: Will elected officials follow the example of progressive governors declaring that the Constitution and history do not allow a president to curb social unrest, crime, and unruly protests with authorized federal involvement?
President Trump declared Antifa public enemy No. 1, exposing their tactics and saying he can invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807. “It’s been invoked before, as you know. If you look at Chicago—Chicago is a great city where there’s a lot of crime—and if the governor can’t do the job, we’ll do that job. It’s all very simple.”
Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, added, “There is an effort to delegitimize the core function of the federal government—of enforcing our immigration laws and sovereignty. It is domestic terrorism. It is insurrection, and no amount of insane, hyperventilating lies from any Democratic official will change our mind on that. ICE officers should not have to live in fear and violence to do their job!”
Federal Action vs. Local Defiance
I lived in the Washington, D.C., area for 24 years and was employed across the street from the White House until I entered vocational Christian ministry 53 years ago. I’ve observed the decline of our nation’s capital but was encouraged when the mayor welcomed National Guard troops to clean up corruption and criminal activity, which brought amazing results within weeks.
Contrast this with the resistance of the governor of Illinois and the mayor of Chicago. In the last five years, Chicago has registered almost 4,000 murders—80% among African Americans. Our president offered assistance with federal servants to curb mafia-like activity but was stiff-armed and told “no.”
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Recently, three ICE agents faced violent protesters and were attacked by ten oncoming cars. One person tried to run down an agent and finally had to be arrested by FBI agents. The chief patrol officer gave an order (documented) not to stop the assault but to leave ICE without protection.
Is there precedent for using the Insurrection Act? Since our president pledged to remove lawbreaking, undocumented migrants; took an oath to protect citizens; and uphold our Constitution and laws (tragically disregarded by Biden allowing in 14 million illegal aliens), integrity demands accountability.
Historical Precedents
- In 1963, JFK sent 17,000 National Guard troops to Alabama to force Governor Wallace to admit nine students to schools.
- Bush Sr. cited the Insurrection Act in deploying troops in 1992 during the L.A. riots, after Reagan in 1970 deployed federal troops to curb protests in California.
- In 1808, President Jefferson invoked the Act to address serious problems with Muslim pirates violating our Embargo Act.
- President Andrew Jackson did it twice in 1831 during Turner’s Rebellion.
- Lincoln used the Insurrection Act in 1861 at the beginning of the Civil War.
- Ulysses S. Grant invoked the Act during Reconstruction.
- Woodrow Wilson invoked it in 1914 amidst labor uprisings, and President Harding did so again in 1921.
- FDR used it to blunt race riots in Detroit, and Eisenhower in 1957 used the National Guard against racist leaders resisting school integration.
- Lyndon Johnson deployed the National Guard in Alabama to protect civil rights workers traveling from Selma to Montgomery.
Constitutional Showdown
Jesus said prior to His return, “Because lawlessness will increase, the love of many will grow cold” (Matt. 24:12). Derek Prince said, “Lawlessness leads to lovelessness.” We’re witnessing this on our watch, with politicians acting in unloving ways that cause constituents harm.
Trump is courageously confronting progressive left leaders who say, “Not my president!” They hate him and do not want to recognize his landslide election, seeking to undermine his authority and policies—especially regarding illegal immigrants.
Ambitious politicians in Illinois, California, Massachusetts, Oregon, and New York are saying they will not obey federal law. Escalating crime and violence in their cities—some of which is attributed to unvetted migrants here illegally and involved in drugs, child trafficking, rape, and dangerous cartels—threaten the safety and stability of our communities.
Our commander in chief’s conviction is to protect citizens (often poor and vulnerable minorities) while having to await court decisions that hinder enforcement. It’s all leading up to a showdown where the Supreme Court will rule—and I believe they’ll side with U.S. immigration laws that must be obeyed. To do otherwise promotes chaos, crime, and anarchy.
French historian Alexis de Tocqueville visited early America and said, “The worst feature of American politics is elections can be determined by people who have no interest in stability—they possess nothing but have little understanding of anything.”
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We won’t be ignorant as we pray fervently and share the truth at this pivotal time, knowing, “Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are condemned to repeat them.”
Larry Tomczak is a best-selling author of 10 books, cultural commentator of 50 years, Intercessors for America board member and a public policy adviser with Liberty Counsel. Go to larrytomczak.com to watch 30 amazing, free, brief, on-demand videos by America’s top leaders so you can confidently address today’s tough issues.
