D.C. Crime Crackdown Update: Authorities Arrest Dozens More, Including Suspected Illegal Immigrants
The Trump administration’s federal crackdown on violent crime in Washington, D.C. continued to show results on Wednesday night, as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that authorities arrested 45 more individuals and detained 29 suspected illegal immigrants. The sweeping operation, launched after President Donald Trump federalized the Metropolitan Police Department and deployed the National Guard, is transforming the security landscape of the nation’s capital.
Leavitt explained that the arrests included charges of first- and second-degree assault, as well as drug trafficking. Federal agents also seized three illegal firearms during the overnight sweep. “In addition to that, there were 29 illegal aliens who were removed off of Washington, D.C., streets last night, many of whom had final orders of removal,” she said. “So these results are happening night after night because of the efforts of this federal task force that [is] working alongside the Metropolitan Police Department, who agree with this effort.”
She stressed that the surge of federal law enforcement is sending a clear message to criminals. “While Democrats want to rant and rave and coddle criminals, President Trump wants to put them behind bars, and that’s what this task force is focused on doing for the next 28 days,” Leavitt said, adding that the heavy law enforcement presence has already deterred additional violence.
.@PressSec on Making D.C. Safe Again: “Overnight, there were 45 criminal arrests made… In addition to that, there were 29 illegal aliens who were removed… If the Democrats had their way, there would be hundreds more criminals roaming free.” pic.twitter.com/rT8FREVSdg
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 14, 2025
The update follows Tuesday’s announcement that more than 100 people had been arrested between August 7 and August 12. FBI Director Kash Patel noted that his agents alone had carried out at least 10 arrests, including one for a prior murder charge. Other federal agencies — the DEA, U.S. Capitol Police, ATF, and hundreds of National Guard troops — are working in tandem with D.C. police to conduct large-scale sweeps across known hotspots.
Despite the surge in arrests, Democratic leaders remain critical. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser insisted this week that crime in the capital is “at its lowest level in 30 years,” attributing progress to city-led reforms. “We had an unacceptable spike in 2023, so we changed our laws and strategies. Now, crime levels are not only down from 2023, but from before the pandemic,” she argued.
Trump strongly disputed those claims, blasting the city’s reported crime statistics as politically manipulated. “The Violent Crime Rate in D.C. has worsened, and the Murder Rate has essentially DOUBLED in just over a decade — But these are only the ‘official’ statistics released by corrupt City Officials. The REAL numbers are many times worse,” the president wrote on Truth Social, pointing to recent allegations that a D.C. precinct commander was suspended for manipulating statistics.
The crackdown gained even more traction Thursday when Police Chief Pamela A. Smith announced that the Metropolitan Police Department would abandon its “sanctuary city” stance and begin cooperating with ICE. Effective immediately, MPD officers will be allowed to share information with federal immigration enforcement and assist in transporting detainees — a major reversal of years-long policy in the capital.
With arrests mounting nightly, immigration enforcement expanded, and local police now aligned with federal authorities, Trump’s crime crackdown in Washington, D.C. is delivering swift and visible results, while setting the stage for a broader national fight over crime and sanctuary policies.