As Donald Trump’s federal takeover of Washington D.C.’s police force enters its second week, significant developments are unfolding. Six states have pledged to send hundreds of additional National Guard troops to assist the administration. However, many residents are left questioning the priorities of federal agents, as they seem to focus their patrols on high-profile yet low-crime areas of the nation’s capital.
The Washington Post has conducted an analysis of the areas where federal forces are active, revealing a concerning trend: very few interactions with the community are taking place in neighborhoods with the highest rates of crime. In response to these claims, the White House asserted on Tuesday that “nearly half of non-immigration related arrests have occurred in the most crime-hit areas in D.C.” This assertion, however, comes in the wake of prior data indicating that many arrests were primarily targeting undocumented immigrants, raising questions about the effectiveness of federal law enforcement in addressing violent crime.
Instead of focusing on high-crime neighborhoods, Washingtonians have reported seeing officers from the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies congregating around notable tourist attractions and nightlife spots. Many residents have observed these agents responding to minor disturbances while inadvertently creating disturbances themselves. Over the weekend, military vehicles, including a tan Humvee, were spotted outside Union Station, positioned adjacent to ride-share pickup areas. The Department of Defense shared a photo of the Humvee on social media, stating: “This We’ll Defend.”
Federal agents and vehicles have also been noted across the National Mall, including the Lincoln Memorial, where violent crime is virtually non-existent. Visible confrontations between federal officers and protesters have been reported along 14th Street, a popular nightlife destination. Amanda Moore, a Washington-based writer, tweeted on Saturday morning about witnessing “15 federal agents call an ambulance for a very, very drunk and sick girl” in Dupont Circle, another nightlife hotspot.
In a notable incident in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood, which boasts a large Hispanic community, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shared a video on Sunday depicting at least seven agents removing a banner that expressed support for immigrant neighbors from a public park. The banner read, “Mount Pleasant melts ICE.” Following the removal, a masked agent audibly claimed, “Mine. We’re taking America back, baby,” a statement that has sparked outrage among local residents. According to a local reporter and surveillance footage, the agents left behind a dildo in place of the banner, which was quickly replaced by community members.
While Trump has attempted to portray the nation’s capital as a city plagued by violent crime, statistics reveal that violent crime is currently at a 30-year low, following a spike in 2023. The president has made claims, lacking evidence, suggesting that crime data is manipulated and that crime rates are more severe than they seem. Observers have noted that the nightlife in Washington D.C. felt unusually quiet during the first weekend of the federal takeover, coinciding with the typical August lull as Congress is on recess.
In neighborhoods like the heavily Hispanic Columbia Heights, where street vendors usually thrive, the streets have appeared empty, raising concerns about the impact of federal enforcement strategies on community life and local businesses.
