WASHINGTON — D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Wednesday credited President Donald Trump’s directed surge of federal regulation enforcement with decreasing crime within the nation’s capital, however made clear that the presence of immigration brokers and Nationwide Guard troops is “not working.”
Bowser conveyed her ambivalent view of the Trump administration’s federalization of D.C. throughout a situational replace on progress made for the reason that president introduced efforts on Aug. 7 to fight crime within the metropolis. On one hand, she communicated that these adjustments have resulted in much less crime, however she additionally expressed deep concern about residents “residing in worry.”
“We vastly recognize the surge of officers that improve what MPD has been in a position to do on this metropolis,” the Democratic mayor advised reporters in regards to the growth of federal regulation enforcement and its partnership with the Metropolitan Police Division.
Carjackings, she mentioned, had been the “most troubling” crime that plagued D.C. in 2023 they usually have decreased in recent times. Bowser mentioned that within the 20 days for the reason that federal takeover, there was an 87% drop in carjackings in comparison with the identical interval final yr. The knowledge cited additionally confirmed a 15% fall in crime total within the district throughout that very same interval within the final yr.
“We all know that when carjackings go down, when use of gun goes down, when murder or theft go down, neighborhoods really feel safer and are safer, so this surge has been essential to us,” mentioned Bowser, who added that she has been personally engaged with Lawyer Normal Pam Bondi and White Home chief of workers Susie Wiles.
Bowser mentioned that she spoke to Trump Wednesday afternoon, although she declined to supply particulars of their dialogue and mentioned the assembly was a “courtesy.” “I used to be reminded of our first assembly after his re-election, the place we mentioned shared priorities for the district. There, I used to be reminded that the president’s curiosity in cities predates his time in workplace and his information of D.C. had considerably elevated from the primary time he was within the White Home.”
Requested what assurance she obtained that the president will not try to transcend the surge’s 30-day interval, Bowser mentioned, “That was not one thing that I mentioned with the president.”
Bowser signaled that the surge might not be wanted after the set interval. “What we would like is native management of our public security ecosystem,” she mentioned when requested what she wished after the month is up. “That features deployment of officers, and we would like federal officers that work in coordination with us — DEA, ATF, FBI — who, because the chief simply talked about, work with us on main crime points on a regular basis.”
She added, “After 30 days, I believe we’ll have officers, and we would like officers. We wish to improve our officer presence.”
Bowser mentioned that MPD’s potential to deal with crime in D.C. could be vastly enhanced if the division is ready to rent no less than 500 further law enforcement officials over the subsequent a number of years. Police Chief Pamela Smith additionally steered through the press convention that town has benefited from the federal job power shaped to deliver down crime and indicated it may very well be an answer long-term “after we do see surges and spikes in crime.”
The mayor mentioned that for the reason that enhance in federal regulation enforcement officers, there have been extra stops which have resulted within the seizure of unlawful weapons and there was extra “accountability within the system” that “is driving down unlawful habits.”
“We all know that we’ve had fewer gun crimes, fewer homicides, and we’ve skilled an excessive discount in carjackings,” she mentioned.
Bowser, nonetheless, strongly rebuked the Trump administration’s deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement brokers and Nationwide Guard troops within the metropolis. “What we all know is just not working is a break in belief between police and group, particularly with new federal companions in our group. We all know having masked ICE brokers locally has not labored, and nationwide guards from different states has not been an environment friendly use of these sources,” she mentioned.
Whereas the mayor refused to say whether or not she introduced up her issues about ICE arrests to Trump or Bondi, she mentioned that folks needs to be “assured that the issues that we’re very involved about, we’re engaged on a decision.”
Many immigrants in D.C. have felt afraid for the reason that federal regulation enforcement buildup, particularly as masked brokers in unmarked vehicles have been seen arresting alleged undocumented immigrants.
Bowser mentioned that the native authorities would not have any info on anybody who has been detained by ICE in D.C. just lately. “I’m involved for certain, as a result of we expect something that we do and something that we’ll ask the federal companions to do is concentrated on violent crime.”
“I’m devastated by folks residing in worry,” she mentioned. “I believe very clearly how I really feel about our nation needing complete immigration reform, in regards to the Congress establishing a pathway to citizenship for hard-working individuals who got here to this nation for a greater life and who will not be criminals, who’re law-abiding.”
Reached for remark about Bowser’s remarks, White Home spokeswoman Taylor Rogers mentioned that “crime is just not a partisan concern.”
“People count on elected officers to prioritize their security over politics. President Trump’s daring motion and partnership with native regulation enforcement has shortly minimized violent crime and eliminated over a thousand criminals from the streets of our nation’s capital,” she mentioned. “This consists of unlawful aliens who’ve prior arrests for heinous crimes like assault or rape and are members of harmful gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. Different Democrat leaders who’re criticizing President Trump for cleansing up DC ought to take notes on the large success that Washington, DC has already skilled below President Trump’s management.”
A White Home official mentioned Wednesday that on Tuesday evening, 40 undocumented immigrants had been arrested who had “a number of convictions for assault, prior felony arrest for DUI, assaulting a regulation enforcement officer, prior felony arrests for managed harmful substances with intent to distribute, prior immigration encounters, and one has been deemed particular curiosity alien.”
Because the federal surge started, the official mentioned 1,170 folks have been arrested.
