On Friday, Attorney General Pam Bondy revealed that almost 200 individuals have been arrested in Washington, D.C., which includes suspects involved in murder and illegal firearms. This move appears to be part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to address crime in the capital.
Bondy reported that the total number of arrests reached 189, and among those captured were two murder suspects, 17 individuals suspected of drug trafficking, 39 connected to illegal firearms, and two sexual predators.
Since President Trump asserted emergency control over police operations earlier in the week, additional support has come from Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has made 75 arrests alongside local law enforcement to bolster city checkpoints and patrols.
In a post on X, Bondy stated, “This is what happens when you actually implement the law. We are reclaiming our country’s capital!”
According to regulations under the District of Columbia Home Rules Act, the president has the authority to oversee police operations for a period of 30 days. Consequently, there has been a noticeable increase in federal presence, with agents from the FBI, DEA, and other agencies deployed throughout the city.
Just a few days ago, around 50 people were taken into custody in a single night, with 29 of them being undocumented immigrants.
Bondy’s comments come right after she revoked protections for illegal immigrants in D.C. and introduced a new “emergency police chief” following tensions regarding cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Drug Enforcement Administration official Terry Cole is set to replace Metro Police Chief Pamela Smith.
Her directive, titled “Restoring Safety and Security in the District of Columbia,” specifically challenges the city’s sanctuary city policies, emphasizing a more stringent approach toward interactions between the local police and those suspected of being undocumented.
