Trump’s Federal Takeover of D.C. Sparks Debate Amid Declining Crime and Surge in Immigration Arrests

President Donald Trump’s recent decision to federalize law enforcement operations in Washington, D.C., has ignited controversy and discussion across the capital, with residents, media figures, and law enforcement experts weighing in on the impact of the move. The declaration of a “crime emergency” and subsequent deployment of federal agents and National Guard troops marks a bold shift in how public safety is being addressed in the nation’s capital.

While some praise the swift reduction in crime reports following the intervention, others are raising concerns about transparency, immigration enforcement, and personal experiences that contradict the official statistics.

Among the voices adding personal context to the issue is ABC News anchor Kyra Phillips, who shared her own experience on-air shortly after the announcement. “Within the last two years, I was jumped just two blocks from our D.C. studio,” Phillips revealed. She also noted that two ABC employees had recently been victims of violent crime near the bureau. One colleague had their car stolen, and another was shot near the office.

“So we can talk about the numbers going down, but crime is happening every single day because we’re all experiencing it firsthand,” Phillips added.

Despite these accounts, official data from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) indicates that violent crime has dropped by 26% in 2025 compared to the previous year. Still, 99 homicides have been reported so far this year—a figure that continues to raise alarms for local residents and officials.

The complexity of the issue deepens with an ongoing internal investigation into MPD Commander Michael Pulliam, who is accused of manipulating crime statistics. Pulliam has been suspended while under review, though he denies the allegations. The controversy has further fueled skepticism about the accuracy of crime data and the true state of public safety in the capital.

Following the federal government’s takeover of local law enforcement operations beginning August 12, early statistics show a noticeable shift in crime trends. Violent crime dropped by 17% in the first full week of federal oversight, while property crimes saw a 19% decrease, according to MPD figures reviewed by CNN. Car break-ins and robberies fell by over 40%, while burglary saw a slight 6% uptick and assaults with dangerous weapons increased by 14%.

Two homicides occurred during that same period—consistent with recent averages—but no killings have been reported since August 13.

The federal effort includes collaboration between national agencies and local police, with joint patrols now occurring across the city. Unmarked federal vehicles have been spotted across D.C., and federal agents have been embedded with MPD officers to assist in arrests, search operations, and warrant enforcement.

One unexpected consequence of the federal presence has been a dramatic increase in immigration-related arrests. According to a CNN report, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has apprehended around 300 undocumented individuals in the city since August 7—ten times the usual weekly number.

Typically, ICE averages about a dozen arrests per week in the capital, based on statistics from the Deportation Data Project at UC Berkeley’s School of Law. Federal officials said ICE agents have been accompanying MPD officers and intervening when individuals encountered during stops are found to lack legal immigration status.

The spike in immigration enforcement has prompted concern from immigrant advocacy groups, who warn that routine policing may now be leading to disproportionate consequences for undocumented residents.

In response to these developments, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson defended the administration’s actions, saying the media was downplaying the positive outcomes.

“The drops in crime are not ‘moderate,’ they are life-changing for countless D.C. residents and visitors who have not been murdered, robbed, or carjacked in the last week,” Jackson said in a statement. “The priority of this operation remains getting violent criminals off the streets—regardless of immigration status.”

While the statistics suggest some progress, the real impact of Trump’s federalization strategy remains a point of debate. Critics argue that the focus on immigration could shift attention away from violent crime prevention, while supporters contend that a tougher stance is necessary to restore order in a city long plagued by safety concerns.

For now, Washington, D.C., remains a focal point of a growing national conversation about crime, immigration, and the balance of federal and local authority in American cities.