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United States President Donald Trump stated on Monday he would declare a national emergency and federalise Washington DC following Mayor Muriel Bowser indicating its police will not assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In question is reporting on people residing in, or entering, the United States illegally. Trump’s warning is added to a step critics have perceived as federal overreach, with over 2,000 soldiers securing the city.
The remarks follow hundreds of thousands of demonstrators taking to the streets this month following Trump’s August ordering of National Guard soldiers to “re-establish law, order, and public safety”, following descriptions of crime as a plague on the capital.
Emergency in Washington DC over ICE dispute Trump vows national
“In a matter of weeks. The ‘location’ is totally booming … for the first time in decades, hardly any crime,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The office of Bowser did not respond immediately to a request for comment on Trump’s tweet.
Previously, he had placed the metropolitan police department under federal authority and deployed federal law enforcement, including officers of ICE, to patrol the streets. Their mission duration is not specified.
Trump accused “radical left Democrats” of forcing Bowser to report the non-cooperation with ICE, saying further that if the police did not continue cooperation with ICE, “crime would come roaring back.”
He went on: “To the people and businesses of Washington DC, don’t worry, I am with you and won’t let this happen. I’ll call a National Emergency, and federalise, if needed!!!”
Bowser, also previously commendatory of Trump’s deployment of federal law enforcement, bringing the swift reversal of crime, previously signed an order for the city to cooperate with federal law enforcement.
The National Guard is a militia reporting to the governors of the 50 states, except in the instance of being called to federal service. The DC National Guard reports directly to the president.
