Trump declares Washington, DC, a ‘crime-free zone’
Fox News’ Alexandria Hoff provides details on the violence in Chicago over Labor Day weekend as President Donald Trump and Gov. JB Pritzker feud over their handling of the crime crisis. Chicago radio host Ray Stevens weighs in.
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Federal agents working at the direction of the Trump administration arrested 70 individuals on Labor Day evening in Washington, D.C., including 27 illegal immigrants and individuals charged with assault and stalking.
According to a White House official, many of those arrested had prior criminal histories for assault, driving while intoxicated, anti-stalking order violation, fraud, burglary and peeping into a dwelling.
One of those arrested on Labor Day had previously been arrested for robbery by force for assaulting a 77-year-old woman and stealing her purse, per the White House official. Another had previously been arrested for assault on a police officer, while several had been arrested for domestic violence, including choking the victim, as well as controlled substance possession with intent to distribute.
One criminal arrested had been previously convicted for assault with a dangerous weapon and sentenced to 45 months’ incarceration, according to the official.
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Authorities arrested 70 individuals, including 27 illegal immigrants and violent criminals on Labor Day as part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on crime in the nation’s capital. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images and Emma Woodhead/Fox News Digital)
The arrests were carried out by over 3,200 officials from 22 agencies.
This follows President Donald Trump signing an executive order in March to establish a “D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force.”
On Aug. 7, Trump declared a public safety emergency in the city and invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to place the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) under federal control. He also deployed around 800 National Guard troops and reassigned federal agents from agencies like ICE to patrol the city.
To date, there have been 1,669 total arrests since the Trump administration intervened. Among those arrested as part of the operation are 16 known gang members, including members of the MS-13 and Tren de Aragua gangs, which have been designated “foreign terrorist organizations” by the State Department.
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Metro Transit Police and Homeland Security Investigations officers search the vehicle of a person detained for a driver’s license issue in Washington, D.C., Aug. 13, 2025. (REUTERS/Ken Cedeno)
Five missing children have been rescued because of the federal operation. Additionally, 50 homeless encampments have been cleared from the city, and the MPD is working with city officials to locate and clear additional encampments.
In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump declared that “DC IS NOW A CRIME FREE ZONE, IN JUST 12 DAYS!!!”
Trump has praised D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser for cooperating with his administration, saying in a Truth Social post, “Wow! Mayor Muriel Bowser of D.C. has become very popular because she worked with me and my great people in bringing crime down to virtually nothing in D.C.”
Bowser initially expressed fear of Trump’s plan to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital; however, the mayor admitted at a press conference last week that the federal surge has made a noticeable impact on the city.
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Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser, joined by Chief of Police at the Metropolitan Police Department Pamela Smith, speaks at a press conference after President Donald Trump announced a federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department at the Wilson Building on Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
At the briefing, Bowser displayed a chart crediting the influx of FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Park Police and Capitol Police with bolstering MPD’s efforts and declared, “We greatly appreciate the surge of officers that enhance what MPD has been able to do in this city.”
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Bowser’s office declined Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey, Alexander Hall and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
