Federal Control in D.C.: Crime Decreases, Immigration Detentions Rise

Washington, D.C., is experiencing a significant conflict between national authority and local governance.

In August 2025, ex-President Donald Trump utilized an infrequently invoked provision—the emergency clause of the Home Rule Act (Section 740)—to take charge of the city’s police department, sending in hundreds of federal agents and National Guard soldiers. Although the government portrayed the intervention as an essential measure against rampant crime, public data shows that criminal activity was actually decreasing, whereas immigration-related detentions increased significantly.

Just days after the federal enforcement, early figures from the Metropolitan Police Department indicated an approximate 19% reduction in property crimes, coupled with a 17% decline in violent incidents compared to the previous week.

Significantly, thefts and vehicle break-ins decreased by over 40%. Nonetheless, not every category exhibited a decline—burglaries rose by approximately 6%, while weapon-related assaults grew by roughly 14%.

Trump described the alterations as a miracle for public safety, even asserting that the capital had experienced a week without any homicides. Although two homicides took place soon after the takeover, no further murders were documented after August 13.

However, specialists warn that D.C.’s violent crime was already showing a downward trend, with 2024 homicide rates decreasing by 32% compared to 2023, and total violent crimes dropping by 35%—the lowest rates seen in decades.

During this period, the implementation resulted in a notable rise in immigration detentions.

 ICE officials allegedly apprehended 300 undocumented people in D.C. beginning on August 7—this marks a tenfold rise compared to the usual rate of about 12 arrests each week

Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C.’s Attorney General indicated that the federal program focused on targeting vulnerable immigrant groups rather than improving safety

Bowser questioned if the crime emergency was merely an excuse to avoid sanctuary protections.

The Attorney General initiated a legal action challenging orders from U.S.Attorney Pam Bondi mandated that law enforcement work with ICE and nullify local sanctuary laws.

The federal presence, although appreciated by some, has profoundly disturbed numerous residents. Residents of Washington voiced concerns that armed law enforcement appeared in tourist and nightlife districts—areas with comparatively low violent crime—instead of concentrating on neighborhoods facing ongoing safety issues.

Polls showed strong dissent: almost 80% of locals were against the acquisition. Businesses, especially restaurants, noted a decline in reservations and a decrease in foot traffic, particularly in lively areas, as the increased visibility of police and ICE created anxiety among both staff and customers.In summary, Trump’s involvement in D.C. resulted in a slight decline in certain crime types—but it also coincided with a significant increase in immigration enforcement, provoking political opposition and heightened civil unrest. The approach might be perceived less as a targeted effort to combat crime and more as a forceful federal declaration with wider social consequences

Certain types of theft, robbery see drop in first week of Trump DC police takeover

There was a moderate decrease in reported crimes during the week of August 12-18, after President Donald Trump signed an executive order taking control of DC’s police department, compared to the prior week of August 5-11.

Crimes reported to DC’s Metropolitan Police Department

Assault with a dangerous weapon
14
16
Burglary
16
17
Homicide
2
1
Motor vehicle theft
83
65
Robbery
25
14
Theft from auto
139
71
Other theft
224
219

Note: Data as of Friday, August 22, 2025. Data is preliminary and can change over time. Not all crime is included in the public MPD database.

The drop in overall crime comes as federal agencies have embedded themselves with local officers, assisting in arrests, searches, warrant executions and other local police work as they drive around the district in vehicles only marked by their occasional flashing blue and red lights.

At the same time, the wave of ICE agents deployed to the district have fueled a much more dramatic increase in arrests of immigrants.

Since August 7, federal officials have arrested 300 people in DC who don’t have legal immigration status, the administration said — a more than tenfold increase over the typical ICE arrest numbers for the district, CNN’s review found.

Over the first six months of Trump’s term, the agency arrested about 12 immigrants in DC per week on average, according to data published by the Deportation Data Project, a research group associated with the University of California, Berkeley law school.

ICE agents trail MPD officers, ready to respond if anyone pulled over or questioned has overstayed their visa or otherwise is in the country unlawfully, one law enforcement official told CNN.