WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to once again federalize Washington, D.C.'s police force, in what he suggested could come in response to the city’s mayor’s stated refusal to cooperate with immigration enforcement.
Trump’s emergency order, which allowed for the takeover of the local police force, expired last week. Hours before it elapsed, Mayor Muriel Bowser said that the city would not cooperate with Immigration, Customs and Enforcement in their continued operations in the nation’s capital, while asserting cooperation with other federal agencies.
In an early-morning social media post on Monday, Trump claimed his intervention in D.C.'s law enforcement had improved crime rates, a claim supported by Bowser, though data indicate that crime was already declining in Washington before the intervention began.
Trump also stated that crime could increase if local immigration enforcement cooperation ceases, warning he would 'call a National Emergency, and Federalize, if necessary!!!'
The mayor’s office declined to comment on Trump’s latest remarks. The White House has not disclosed whether Trump plans to enforce his threat, and it has not provided clarification on whether the president considered extending his previous order that placed the city’s police force under federal control.
Bowser issued an order earlier this month outlining how local police would work with federal law enforcement agencies that continue operations in the city, which notably excluded ICE.
Speaking at a ribbon-cutting ceremony shortly before Trump's comments, Bowser emphasized that immigration enforcement is not a role for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and reiterated that this will not change moving forward.
Federal law enforcement agencies and National Guard units from multiple states continue to operate in Washington, D.C., amidst ongoing debates in Congress regarding D.C. governance, budget approval, and law enforcement policies.
Trump’s emergency order, which allowed for the takeover of the local police force, expired last week. Hours before it elapsed, Mayor Muriel Bowser said that the city would not cooperate with Immigration, Customs and Enforcement in their continued operations in the nation’s capital, while asserting cooperation with other federal agencies.
In an early-morning social media post on Monday, Trump claimed his intervention in D.C.'s law enforcement had improved crime rates, a claim supported by Bowser, though data indicate that crime was already declining in Washington before the intervention began.
Trump also stated that crime could increase if local immigration enforcement cooperation ceases, warning he would 'call a National Emergency, and Federalize, if necessary!!!'
The mayor’s office declined to comment on Trump’s latest remarks. The White House has not disclosed whether Trump plans to enforce his threat, and it has not provided clarification on whether the president considered extending his previous order that placed the city’s police force under federal control.
Bowser issued an order earlier this month outlining how local police would work with federal law enforcement agencies that continue operations in the city, which notably excluded ICE.
Speaking at a ribbon-cutting ceremony shortly before Trump's comments, Bowser emphasized that immigration enforcement is not a role for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and reiterated that this will not change moving forward.
Federal law enforcement agencies and National Guard units from multiple states continue to operate in Washington, D.C., amidst ongoing debates in Congress regarding D.C. governance, budget approval, and law enforcement policies.
