In the first week after the Trump administration assumed control of Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department and deployed federal agents along with National Guard troops, the city experienced a modest decline in reported crime alongside a dramatic surge in immigration-related arrests, according to data reviewed by CNN.
President Donald Trump invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act on August 11, 2025, declaring a public safety emergency. This move placed MPD under temporary federal oversight for up to 30 days and brought in additional law enforcement resources to address what the administration described as rampant crime, disorder, and visible problems like homelessness in the nation’s capital.
For the week starting August 12—the first full week under the new arrangement—property crimes fell by approximately 19 percent compared to the prior week, while violent crime dropped about 17 percent, based on the latest Metropolitan Police Department statistics. The declines were uneven across categories. Robberies and car break-ins plunged by more than 40 percent, offering noticeable relief in those areas. Thefts held steady, however, while burglaries rose 6 percent and assaults with a dangerous weapon increased 14 percent. Two homicides were recorded during the period, in line with recent trends, though none occurred after August 13.
Federal agents embedded with local officers, assisting in arrests, searches, warrant executions, and patrols—often using unmarked vehicles. They also participated in responding to incidents such as shootings, drug and firearm possession, and stolen vehicles. Uncommon traffic checkpoints appeared, including a large operation along a major highway exiting the city, where officers conducted vehicle stops and searches.
At the same time, immigration enforcement intensified sharply. Since August 7, federal officials arrested roughly 300 individuals in the district without legal immigration status—more than ten times the typical weekly number of ICE arrests in Washington. During the first six months of Trump’s term, ICE had averaged only about 12 such arrests per week in D.C., according to data from the Deportation Data Project at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. Officials said ICE agents accompanied MPD officers and took action when individuals encountered during routine stops were found to be unlawfully present. Many of those detained reportedly had criminal records or outstanding warrants, including for serious offenses, though independent verification of the full breakdown was limited.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson pushed back against characterizations of the crime reductions as merely “moderate.” “The drops in crime are not ‘moderate,’ they are life-changing for the countless DC residents and visitors who have not been murdered, robbed, carjacked, or victims of overall violent crime in the last week,” she said. Jackson stressed that the operation’s priority remained removing violent criminals from the streets, “regardless of immigration status.”
The heightened immigration activity drew strong criticism from Democratic leaders in D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser argued that an order from Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared to focus heavily on immigration enforcement and clearing homeless encampments. D.C.’s attorney general filed a lawsuit challenging Bondi’s directive to override the city’s sanctuary policies, which had restricted cooperation with ICE. During a hearing, a federal judge indicated that Trump’s authority under the Home Rule Act likely permitted requiring local police to assist federal immigration efforts.
Viral videos showed ICE agents making aggressive arrests, including tackling individuals and, in one instance, breaking car windows to detain two men. Some incidents involved food delivery workers. These images fueled debate over the operation’s scope and tactics.
The short-term results reflected the immediate impact of a major policing surge in a city where violent crime had already been trending downward in prior years, reaching multi-decade lows in some metrics before the intervention. Supporters viewed the changes as tangible progress and a model for restoring order. Critics saw it as federal overreach aimed primarily at immigration priorities rather than purely local crime concerns. As the initial phase unfolded, broader arrest totals climbed, with the administration reporting thousands of detentions overall, including gang members and firearm recoveries.
