In the first week after the White House assumed control of Washington, D.C.’s police operations and deployed federal agents alongside National Guard troops, the city experienced a modest decrease in overall crime but a significant rise in immigration-related arrests, according to a CNN analysis of government data. For the week beginning August 12, property crimes dropped by approximately 19 percent compared to the previous week, while violent crimes decreased by 17 percent, based on Metropolitan Police Department statistics. Robberies and car break-ins fell by over 40 percent, while thefts remained stable. Burglary cases increased by 6 percent, and assaults involving dangerous weapons rose by 14 percent. Two homicides occurred during the period, consistent with recent weeks, though none have been reported since August 13.
Federal agents have been embedded with local police, assisting with arrests, searches, warrant executions, and patrolling in unmarked vehicles. At the same time, immigration enforcement saw a sharp increase: since August 7, approximately 300 individuals without legal immigration status were arrested in the district, more than ten times the typical weekly ICE arrests. During the first six months of Trump’s current term, ICE averaged around 12 arrests per week in Washington, D.C., according to the Deportation Data Project at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. Officials said ICE agents accompanied MPD officers and intervened when individuals were found to be in the country unlawfully.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson defended the administration’s approach, stating that the drop in crime represented “exceptional results” and emphasized the priority of removing violent criminals from the streets, regardless of immigration status. The administration noted that those taken into custody included individuals wanted for crimes or with outstanding warrants, including serious offenses. CNN reported that it could not independently verify the breakdown of charges. The increase in immigration-related arrests has sparked concern among D.C. Democratic leaders, including Mayor Muriel Bowser, who suggested the federal intervention primarily targeted immigrants and homeless encampments. The District of Columbia’s attorney general filed a lawsuit challenging Attorney General Pam Bondi’s order directing local police to disregard sanctuary laws, which had previously limited cooperation with ICE. A federal judge overseeing the case indicated that Trump’s authority under the Home Rule Act may allow him to require local police assistance in immigration enforcement.
Videos circulating in Washington showed ICE agents detaining individuals, including food delivery workers, and breaking vehicle windows to make arrests. During the heightened police activity, officers responded to reports of shootings, drug and firearm possession, and a stolen vehicle. Federal agents communicated over local police channels to coordinate stops, searches, and other law enforcement activities. Additionally, federal and local authorities established traffic checkpoints—a rare practice in the district—with officers stopping and searching vehicles, although the specific criteria for these stops were not immediately clear. The mixed results highlight the complexities of federal intervention in local policing: while some crime categories decreased, the rise in immigration-related arrests has raised questions about priorities, legality, and the impact on the community.
