Washington – Federal agents are expected to have a much stronger and more visible presence in the streets of Washington from Friday after several days of the city’s crime rate.
“President Trump has directed a greater presence of the Federal Police to protect innocent citizens,” said White House Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, in a statement on Thursday, saying that the city “has been plagued by violent crimes for too long.”
“As of tonight, there will not be a safe port for violent criminals in the president of DC, Trump, undertakes that the capital of our nation is safer for its residents, legislators and visitors around the world,” he added.
A White House official said that the seven -day effort, led by the United States Park Police, will focus on high -traffic tourist areas and other hot points in the capital of the nation.
Federal officers “will be identified, in marked units, and very visible,” said the official, added that the operation could extend beyond the period of one week.
The participating agents and officers will come from the Department of National Security, Immigration and Customs Control, the FBI, the United States Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department and the United States Sheriff Service, among others, said the official.
The number of participating agents was not specified.
Nor is it clear if they have been aimed at participating in an “activity” beyond the typical tasks or what their role would be beyond being present in federal property, said a Washington official.
Trump signed an executive order this year known as “Make the Columbia district safe and beautiful”, which runs a working group to guarantee federal participation to enforce the United States immigration law, change the resources available to deport undocumented immigrants in the Washington area and review federal prosecution policies linked to prior detention, among other matters.
Trump in recent days has denounced the “crime” in the district, although the local police data show that violent crime has dropped 26% compared to last year.
Trump has specifically cited a recent attack on Edward Coristine, a former employee of the Government Efficiency Department also known by his name online, “Big Balls”, who was the victim of a car theft and an assault last weekend, said a police report. Later, the police arrested two young people from Maryland.
Trump wrote on Tuesday about Truth Social that “the law in DC must be changed to process these ‘minors’ as adults, and lock them up for a long time, starting at age 14.”
“If DC does not act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take federal control of the city, and direct this city how it should be executed, and put the criminals in warning that they will no longer get out of their own,” he added. “If this continues, I will exercise my powers and federalize this city.”
Trump has threatened a federal acquisition of the Washington government, saying this week that the White House lawyers are examining whether Congress should revoke a law known as the Law of the Interior Rule of 1973, which allows residents to choose their own mayor and members of the municipal council.
Monica Alba and Laura Strickler reported from Washington and Zoë Richards of New York City.
