In the first week after the White House assumed control of Washington, D.C.’s police force and deployed federal agents alongside National Guard troops, crime trends in the city shifted in striking ways, according to a CNN analysis of official data. From August 12, the first full week of federal oversight, property crimes dropped 19 percent while violent crime fell 17 percent compared to the week before. Robberies and car break-ins saw dramatic reductions of over 40 percent, while thefts held steady, burglaries rose slightly by 6 percent, and assaults with a dangerous weapon climbed 14 percent. Two homicides occurred during this period, a figure consistent with recent weeks, though none have been reported since August 13. Federal agencies worked directly with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), assisting in warrant executions, searches, and patrols across the city, often in unmarked vehicles. Officials hailed these results as proof of success, with White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson emphasizing that the “life-changing” decline in crime demonstrated the impact of President Trump’s strategy to bring “law and order” back to the nation’s capital.
However, the same week also saw a surge in immigration enforcement that sparked political and social concerns. Federal data showed that roughly 300 undocumented individuals were arrested in Washington, D.C. between August 7 and August 19 — more than ten times the city’s typical weekly average of 12 arrests, according to the Deportation Data Project at UC Berkeley. ICE officials acknowledged working in tandem with MPD officers, intervening during stops or questioning when immigration violations surfaced. The administration insisted that many of those arrested were linked to other crimes or outstanding warrants, but CNN reported it could not independently verify how many cases involved criminal charges beyond immigration status. Critics, including D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, accused the federal government of prioritizing immigration crackdowns and encampment sweeps over community safety, suggesting that the operation’s true focus extended beyond curbing violent crime. While the White House framed the dual approach as necessary for public safety, local leaders warned that mass immigration arrests could erode trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities, raising questions about the broader implications of Trump’s federal intervention in the capital.
