President Trump warned of declaring a national emergency after Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser signaled local police would cease cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “The Federal Government, under my auspices as President of the United States of America, has stepped into the complete criminal mess that was Washington, D.C., our Nation’s Capital. Because of this, D.C. has gone from one of the most dangerous and murder ridden cities in the U.S.A., and even around the World, to one of the safest – In just a few weeks,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“The ‘place’ is absolutely booming, with restaurants, stores, and businesses packed and, for the first time in decades, virtually NO CRIME. It has been a beautiful thing to watch but, now, under pressure from the Radical Left Democrats, Mayor Muriel Bowser, who has presided over this violent criminal takeover of our Capital for years, has informed the Federal Government that the Metropolitan Police Department will no longer cooperate with ICE in removing and relocating dangerous illegal aliens. If I allowed this to happen, CRIME would come roaring back,” he continued.
“To the people and businesses of Washington, D.C., DON’T WORRY, I AM WITH YOU, AND WON’T ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. I’ll call a National Emergency, and Federalize, if necessary!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” he added.
Congress did not extend the president’s 30-day emergency authority over the city’s police force, which expired last week. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) stated it was “not necessary,” noting Congress had not received a request to act and that the city has been cooperative. Bowser’s executive order authorized coordination between local police and federal forces. The Army also extended National Guard troop authorization in the city through Nov. 30.
Bowser said last week the executive order requires returning to “the preemergency status quo.” When asked if that means the Metropolitan Police Department would stop transporting ICE detainees, she replied, “That certainly would be my expectation.” “Immigration enforcement is not what MPD does. And with the end of the emergency, it won’t be what MPD does in the future,” she added.
The New York Post reported Bowser told reporters, “I don’t,” when asked if she feared provoking Trump. “We have a long history of working with federal law enforcement, and we’re going to continue to partner in ways that make sense for DC safety.” During Trump’s second term, Bowser has avoided provoking the president after criticizing him during his first administration. However, she previously opposed Trump’s initial order to federalize MPD.
Bowser also took executive action Sept. 2 “to ensure coordination with federal law enforcement to the maximum extent allowable by law within the District.” Over the first three weeks of the federal surge, property crime incidents fell 25% and violent crime dropped by 10%, according to MPD data.