WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser acknowledged that President Donald Trump’s increased deployment of federal law enforcement has contributed to a decline in crime in the capital. However, she emphasized that the involvement of immigration agents and National Guard troops “is not working.”
Bowser shared her mixed feelings regarding the Trump administration’s federal involvement in D.C. during an update on progress since the president announced measures on August 7 to tackle city crime. She noted that while these measures have led to reduced crime, there remains a significant concern about residents “living in fear.”
“We sincerely value the additional officers who enhance what the MPD can achieve here,” the Democratic mayor informed reporters about the increased federal law enforcement cooperation with the Metropolitan Police Department.
She mentioned that carjackings were a particularly “concerning” crime in D.C. in 2023, and there has been a reduction in these incidents recently. Since the federal takeover 20 days prior, carjackings have decreased by 87% compared to the same time last year. Additionally, there was a reported 15% decrease in overall crime during the same period last year in the district.
“We understand that when carjackings, gun use, homicides, or robberies decrease, neighborhoods feel and become safer,” stated Bowser, who mentioned ongoing communication with Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.
Bowser shared that she spoke with Trump on Wednesday afternoon but refrained from giving details, calling the meeting a “courtesy.” “It reminded me of our initial meeting after his re-election, where we discussed mutual priorities for the district. I recalled that the president’s focus on cities dates back before his presidency, and his understanding of D.C. has grown since his initial time at the White House.”
Asked what assurance she received that the president won’t attempt to go beyond the surge’s 30-day period, Bowser said, “That was not something that I discussed with the president.”
Bowser signaled that the surge may not be needed after the set period. “What we want is local control of our public safety ecosystem,” she said when asked what she wanted after the month is up. “That includes deployment of officers, and we want federal officers that work in coordination with us — DEA, ATF, FBI — who, as the chief just mentioned, work with us on major crime issues all the time.”
She added, “After 30 days, I think we’re going to have officers, and we want officers. We want to enhance our officer presence.”
Bowser said that MPD’s ability to address crime in D.C. would be greatly enhanced if the department is able to hire at least 500 additional police officers over the next several years. Police Chief Pamela Smith also suggested during the press conference that the city has benefited from the federal task force formed to bring down crime and indicated it could be a solution long-term “when we do see surges and spikes in crime.”
The mayor said that since the increase in federal law enforcement officers, there have been more stops that have resulted in the seizure of illegal guns and there has been more “accountability in the system” that “is driving down illegal behavior.”
“We know that we have had fewer gun crimes, fewer homicides, and we have experienced an extreme reduction in carjackings,” she said.
Bowser, however, strongly rebuked the Trump administration’s deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and National Guard troops in the city. “What we know is not working is a break in trust between police and community, especially with new federal partners in our community. We know having masked ICE agents in the community has not worked, and national guards from other states has not been an efficient use of those resources,” she said.
While the mayor refused to say whether she brought up her concerns about ICE arrests to Trump or Bondi, she said that people should be “assured that the things that we are very concerned about, we are working on a resolution.”
Many immigrants in D.C. have felt afraid since the federal law enforcement buildup, especially as masked agents in unmarked cars have been seen arresting alleged undocumented immigrants.
Bowser said that the local government doesn’t have any information on anyone who has been detained by ICE in D.C. recently. “I am concerned for sure, because we think anything that we do and anything that we’re going to ask the federal partners to do is focused on violent crime.”
“I am devastated by people living in fear,” she said. “I think you know very clearly how I feel about our nation needing comprehensive immigration reform, about the Congress establishing a pathway to citizenship for hard-working people who came to this country for a better life and who are not criminals, who are law-abiding.”
Reached for comment about Bowser’s remarks, White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said that “crime is not a partisan issue.”
“Americans expect elected officials to prioritize their safety over politics. President Trump’s bold action and partnership with local law enforcement has quickly minimized violent crime and removed over a thousand criminals from the streets of our nation’s capital,” she said. “This includes illegal aliens who have prior arrests for heinous crimes like assault or rape and are members of dangerous gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. Other Democrat leaders who are criticizing President Trump for cleaning up DC should take notes on the tremendous success that Washington, DC has already experienced under President Trump’s leadership.”
A White House official said Wednesday that on Tuesday night, 40 undocumented immigrants were arrested who had “multiple convictions for assault, prior criminal arrest for DUI, assaulting a law enforcement officer, prior criminal arrests for controlled dangerous substances with intent to distribute, prior immigration encounters, and one has been deemed special interest alien.”
Since the federal surge began, the official said 1,170 people have been arrested.
