In a major law enforcement operation, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced over 180 arrests in Washington D.C. since the Trump administration federalized the city’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to address rising crime. The crackdown, which has seen federal agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) working closely with local police, has resulted in the arrest of homicide suspects, drug traffickers, illegal gun offenders, and sexual predators.
Bondi’s actions follow the rescission of sanctuary city protections, which previously restricted how the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) could interact with illegal immigrants. This move has allowed federal agencies to collaborate more directly with local law enforcement, enhancing efforts to combat crime and immigration violations.
Federalization of the MPD under section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act has also brought in hundreds of National Guard members and agents from the FBI, DEA, U.S. Capitol Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). These agencies have played a key role in reinforcing patrols and manning checkpoints in the city.
Bondi emphasized that the crackdown is part of a broader effort to restore public safety and security, stating that these actions would ensure that the nation’s capital is once again beautiful and safe. She added that the collaboration between federal and local agencies has been instrumental in achieving these results.
Recent data shows that nearly 50 people were arrested on Wednesday night alone, including 29 illegal immigrants. These arrests underscore the administration’s commitment to enforcing the law and cracking down on crime in the nation’s capital.
Bondi’s announcement comes one day after she rescinded illegal immigration protections in D.C. and instated an “emergency police commissioner” for the police department. Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terry Cole will take over for Metro Police Chief Pamela Smith, who has come under fire for directives that limited cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Overall, the federal crackdown represents a significant shift in law enforcement strategy in the nation’s capital, with federal agencies playing a central role in maintaining order and addressing criminal activity.