Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser admitted on Wednesday that crime in the district has plummeted since President Donald Trumpâs federal takeover.
Bowser, a Democrat, touted the cratering crime rates and said she âgreatly appreciatesâ the resources that have been surged into the city since Trumpâs early August emergency declaration. She signaled that she would like to continue to work with the federal government to police the city after Trumpâs emergency declaration times out at the end of 30 days.
âThis is what we think, in just a couple of weeks of experience, has worked: having more federal law enforcement officers on the street. We think having more stops that got to illegal guns has helped. We think that thereâs more accountability in the system, or at least perceived accountability in the system that is driving down illegal behavior,â said Bowser at a press conference.
âWe know that we have had fewer gun crimes, fewer homicides, and we have experienced an Extreme reduction in carjackings,â she continued.
Bowser went on to tout the area where she suggested Trumpâs federal takeover has made the most progress: carjackings.
âThe most significant thing that we are highlighting today is the area of crime that was most troubling for us in 2023,â she said. Carjackings during the time that Trump has marshaled federal law enforcement to D.C., carjackings in the district have declined 87% from the same period of time last year, according to the mayor
âWe know that when carjackings go down, when the use of gun goes down, when homicide or robbery go down, neighborhoods feel safer and are safer. So this surge has been important to us,â said Bowser.
The mayor criticized the surge for creating âa break in trustâ between law enforcement and the local D.C. community. She said that immigration officers in particular have been unnecessary and a waste of resources to police the city.
Since Trumpâs federal takeover, more than 1,000 people have been arrested. Hundreds of those arrested are illegal immigrants, and some have been identified as MS-13 or Tren de Aragua gang members.
Law enforcement has seized over 100 firearms and cleared away dozens of homeless encampments. Trump has surged federal resources into the nationâs capital to make the city safe and beautiful, as well.
