Federal Law Enforcement Beefs Up D.c. Presence After Trump Decries Crime Rate

WASHINGTON — Federal agents are expected to person a overmuch stronger and visible beingness connected nan streets of Washington starting Friday pursuing respective days of President Donald Trump’s bashing nan city's crime rate.

“President Trump has directed an accrued beingness of national rule enforcement to protect guiltless citizens,” White House property caput Karoline Leavitt said successful a connection Thursday, saying nan metropolis “has been plagued by convulsive crime for acold excessively long.”

“Starting tonight, location will beryllium nary safe harbor for convulsive criminals successful D.C. President Trump is committed to making our Nation’s superior safer for its residents, lawmakers, and visitors from each astir nan world,” she added.

A White House charismatic said nan seven-day effort, led by nan U.S. Park Police, will attraction connected high-traffic tourer areas and different basking spots successful nan nation's capital.

Federal officers "will beryllium identified, successful marked units, and highly visible," nan charismatic said, adding that nan cognition could widen beyond nan weeklong period.

Participating agents and officers will travel from nan Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, nan FBI, nan U.S. Capitol Police, nan Metropolitan Police Department and nan U.S. Marshals Service, among others, nan charismatic said.

The number of participating agents was not specified.

It’s besides unclear whether they person been directed to prosecute successful “activity” beyond emblematic duties aliases what their domiciled would beryllium beyond being coming connected national property, a Washington charismatic said.

Trump signed an executive bid this twelvemonth known arsenic “Making nan District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful,” which directs a task unit to guarantee national engagement successful enforcing U.S. migration law, shifting disposable resources toward deporting undocumented immigrants successful nan Washington area and reviewing national prosecution policies tied to pretrial detention, among different matters.

Trump successful caller days has decried “crime” successful nan district, moreover though local constabulary data shows convulsive crime is down 26% compared pinch past year.

Trump has specifically cited a recent onslaught connected Edward Coristine, a erstwhile worker of nan Department of Government Efficiency besides known by his online name, “Big Balls,” who was nan unfortunate of a carjacking and an battle past weekend, a constabulary study said. Police later arrested 2 15-year-olds from Maryland.

Trump wrote Tuesday on Truth Social that “the Law successful D.C. must beryllium changed to prosecute these ‘minors’ arsenic adults, and fastener them up for a agelong time, starting astatine property 14.”

“If D.C. doesn’t get its enactment together, and quickly, we will person nary prime but to return Federal power of nan City, and tally this City really it should beryllium run, and put criminals connected announcement that they’re not going to get distant pinch it anymore,” he added. “If this continues, I americium going to exert my powers, and FEDERALIZE this City.”

Trump has threatened a national takeover of nan Washington government, saying this week that White House lawyers are examining whether Congress should overturn a rule known arsenic nan Home Rule Act of 1973, which empowers residents to elite their ain politician and City Council members.

Monica Alba and Laura Strickler reported from Washington and Zoë Richards from New York City.