President Trump will increase the federal law enforcement presence in Washington, D.C., for the second night of patrolling, adding organizations after touting a successful first night.
The additional organizations include the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Secret Service Uniform Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Police, as well as the U.S. Marshals Service, to ensure prosecution, not just arrests, a White House official said.
Over 120 federal law enforcement will be in high-traffic areas, and officers will be highly visible and marked, the official said.
On Thursday night, the official said arrests were made for possession of stolen firearms and illegal drugs during various traffic stops.
“At President Trump’s direction, the increase of federal law enforcement presence in DC last night was a great success. This is the first step in stopping the violent crime that has been plaguing the streets of Washington, DC. The residents and visitors of our nation’s capital can be confident that President Trump is delivering on his promise to Make DC Safe Again,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The federal law enforcement officers are expected to patrol the streets for seven days. The original group was led by the U.S. Park Police and included officers and agents from the FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; divisions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and other agencies.
Trump earlier this week said he was considering taking control of the Washington, D.C., police department in the wake of a violent attack on a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer.
The president has expressed frustration about crime and homelessness in the nation’s capital, despite data that showed crime in D.C. was down 35 percent in 2024 from the previous year, marking a 30-year low.
He issued an executive order in March establishing the Making D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force “to ensure effective federal participation” in the enforcement of immigration laws and redirecting resources to apprehend and deport migrants in Washington, as well as monitoring its “sanctuary city” status to comply with federal immigration laws.
Source: The Hill - News
