Murder Rates Drop as Trump Administration Ramps Up Crime Crackdown; National Guard Deployed in D.C., Trafficking Ring Busted in Nebraska

FBI Director Kash Patel announced Monday that the United States is on pace to record its lowest murder rate in modern history, crediting the Trump administration’s aggressive stance on crime. Speaking at a press conference in Washington, D.C., Patel outlined several key metrics that he says demonstrate the effectiveness of the administration’s law enforcement strategy.

“We are now able to report that the murder rate is on track to be the lowest in modern U.S. history,” Patel said. “That’s a direct result of the relentless efforts by our federal agencies and the leadership from President Trump.”

Patel’s remarks came as President Trump moved to deploy the National Guard to the nation’s capital and assume direct control over Washington, D.C.’s police force—an unprecedented move aimed at cracking down on violent crime in the city. Trump also hinted at expanding the initiative to other Democrat-run cities with high crime rates.

In his remarks, Patel highlighted several accomplishments by federal law enforcement agencies in 2025 alone. Among them were the rescue of over 4,000 missing or exploited children—a 33% increase over the same period in 2024. He also cited a 25% increase in fentanyl seizures, with more than 1,500 kilograms of the deadly opioid intercepted so far this year.

“To put that into perspective, that amount of fentanyl could kill approximately 115 million Americans,” he said.

Patel also emphasized that FBI operations under the Trump administration have led to the arrests of 19,000 individuals in 2025, doubling the number of arrests made at the same point last year. Of those, 1,600 were charged with violent crimes against children, and 270 were identified as child sex traffickers.

“These numbers aren’t just statistics. They represent lives saved and communities made safer,” he said.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino echoed Patel’s statements on social media, writing, “The President’s pledge to clean up the streets is producing real results. This is just the start.”

Patel praised the administration’s team, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, for making child protection and homeland security top priorities.

“This is what strong leadership looks like,” he said. “We are restoring law and order and standing up for our most vulnerable citizens—our children.”

Major Trafficking Ring Dismantled in Nebraska

In a separate but related development, U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced the arrest of five individuals accused of operating a large-scale labor and sex trafficking network in the Omaha metro area and surrounding parts of Nebraska.

The defendants, who allegedly owned and managed multiple hotels in the region, were charged with harboring undocumented immigrants, labor trafficking, and sex trafficking. Federal authorities executed search warrants at several properties on August 12, uncovering disturbing conditions and rescuing 27 victims, including 10 minors under the age of twelve.

According to a Justice Department press release, children were forced to work long hours cleaning hotel rooms and maintaining property grounds for little to no compensation. Many of them were made to sleep on the floor of pest-infested rooms, paying out of pocket for their own lodging despite unsanitary and unsafe conditions.

A federal agent involved in the investigation reported witnessing minors sleeping on bug-infested floors during a search. “Cockroaches were crawling over them as they slept,” the affidavit noted.

The investigation further revealed a sex trafficking component involving both adults and minors. Prosecutors allege that the trafficking operations were not only tolerated by hotel management but actively supported. Employees and managers reportedly helped shield illegal activity from detection by law enforcement.

“There is no evil greater than that which seeks to exploit and imprison human beings for profit or pleasure,” U.S. Attorney Woods said in a post-arrest statement.

She emphasized that federal, state, and local authorities coordinated closely to dismantle the operation and ensure that every victim is provided resources and the opportunity for justice.

“This case demonstrates the commitment of Nebraska law enforcement to track down and eliminate modern-day slavery wherever it exists,” Woods added.

The investigation is ongoing, and the defendants are expected to face a range of federal charges in the coming weeks. Authorities are continuing to identify and assist additional victims connected to the case.

As the Trump administration continues its push for law-and-order policies across the country, these latest developments highlight both the scale of the challenges facing U.S. law enforcement—and the high stakes involved in combating human trafficking and violent crime.