By Savanah Hulsey Pointer
Police and federal officers in the District of Columbia have made 465 arrests since the federal government took over policing the nation’s capital this past week.
Fifty-two arrests and nine firearms seizures were made just on the night of Aug. 18 into Aug. 19. The suspects included MS-13 gang members, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in her Aug. 19 briefing.
The same day, four homeless encampments were removed, for a total of 48 cleared so far.
Leavitt specified that almost half of all arrests made since the federal takeover, and which were not related to illegal immigrants, occurred in the seventh and eighth wards, east of the Anacostia River. These areas are known for high rates of assault, robbery, and homicide.
President Donald Trump federalized control of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department on Aug. 11, ordering about 800 National Guard troops to assist with law enforcement.
“I’m announcing a historic action to rescue our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam, and squalor, and worse,“ Trump said at a White House press briefing at the time. “This is Liberation Day in D.C., and we’re going to take our capital back.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi said in an Aug. 19 X post: “Since our mission began, there have been a total of 465 arrests, 68 guns seized, and charges for homicide, narcotics, and firearm offenses.
“Nearly half of these arrests occurred in the high-crime areas of DC.
“Residents and tourists alike appreciate this extraordinary effort by our DC and Federal law enforcement partners.”
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb stated in an Aug. 11 X post that “the Administration’s actions are unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful.”
“There is no crime emergency in the District of Columbia,” he said. “Violent crime in DC reached historic 30-year lows last year, and is down another 26% so far this year.”
Crime statistics released by the Metropolitan Police Department show that crime fell overall by about 15 percent from 2023 to 2024.
Help From Outside
Governors from other states have promised to assist Trump in securing the nation’s capital.
Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana have all pledged to send National Guard troops to Washington to help with the crackdown, joining several other states already offering aid.
“Crime is out of control there, and it’s clear something must be done to combat it,” Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said in a statement posted on X, announcing the deployment of around 200 National Guard soldiers.
“Americans deserve a safe capital city that we can all be proud of. I know the brave men and women of our National Guard will do an excellent job enhancing public safety and supporting law enforcement.”
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry announced that about 135 Louisiana National Guardsmen would be heading to the capital.
“We cannot allow our cities to be overcome by violence and lawlessness,” he said.
West Virginia, South Carolina, and Ohio had already committed to sending personnel. West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey is sending 300 to 400 Guard members and equipment; South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has promised 200 troops; and Ohio’s Gov. Mike DeWine said he would provide 150 military police.
The state National Guard units will assist D.C. police and the 500 federal agents assigned to the city.
In announcing the takeover by federal law enforcement, Trump compared it to current operations at the border, citing recent historic lows in border enforcement encounters.
In an Aug. 10 post on Truth Social, Trump said that criminals arrested during the D.C. crackdown would be jailed and homeless encampments cleared out, with homeless people being offered accommodations “far from the capital.”
“Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs, and homeless people,” Trump said. “And we’re not going to let it happen anymore.”
Tom Ozimek and Sam Dorman contributed to this report.
