Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a strong ultimatum to Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, warning that if local leaders continue resisting federal security measures, the Biden administration will send “four times the amount” of federal officers to the city. Her remarks came during a visit to Portland’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, which has been the site of ongoing protests and clashes.

Noem expressed disappointment with her meeting with Mayor Wilson, accusing him of prioritizing politics over public safety. She told Fox News that Portland’s leadership had failed to protect both citizens and law enforcement officers. Standing atop the ICE building with federal agents, she accused Wilson of cowardice, claiming his delays had put lives at risk.

According to Noem, organized agitators—whom she referred to as “professional terrorists”—were targeting federal facilities, echoing past rhetoric from the Trump administration. She argued that federal officers were essential for maintaining order and criticized Portland leaders for underestimating the seriousness of the situation.

Mayor Wilson later issued a statement calling the meeting “cordial but deeply concerning.” He defended the city’s approach to public safety, rejecting Noem’s characterization of Portland as out of control. Wilson questioned the constitutionality of federal tactics used at the ICE facility and pledged to explore legal options to protect Portland’s residents and civil rights.

The clash comes after a federal judge blocked the administration’s plan to deploy National Guard troops to Oregon, stating that the need for such intervention had not been adequately proven. The federal government is appealing the decision.

With President Trump framing Portland as a city in chaos and local officials denying that narrative, tensions remain high. Noem’s threat to significantly escalate federal presence represents a bold step in the ongoing conflict between federal authorities and progressive-led cities.