A significant wave of arrests by the newly federalized Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department is expected to include many illegal immigrants, according to expert analysis. The Trump administration recently announced that out of 45 arrests, 29 involved individuals in the country illegally. Following this, 15 of 33 arrests the next day also included illegal immigrants, one being a suspect from China.
Jessica Vaughan, the director of Policy Studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, highlighted that the issue of criminal aliens in Washington D.C. is profound. She explained that “Washington, D.C., has long suffered from problems with street gangs that include or are majority illegal alien,” attributing this partly to sanctuary policies and historical waves of illegal immigration. The existence of gangs like MS-13 and 18th Street has led to community challenges, as these gangs use illegal immigration to bolster their ranks. Vaughan noted, “Any city that tolerates illegal immigration is going to have a problem with criminal aliens who know they will be shielded from immigration enforcement.”
In a significant shift, Attorney General Pam Bondi has eliminated sanctuary policies that previously provided protections for undocumented individuals. This move empowers ICE to effectively conduct operations that target criminal elements within the city. Vaughan pointed out, “This intervention by Trump is an opportunity for ICE to make up for years of being hindered by the D.C. government.”
D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith issued an order allowing limited cooperation with federal immigration authorities, albeit without full support for immigration enforcement. The new guidelines permit information sharing during traffic stops, which marks a shift in the department’s approach. This development reflects a broader trend, as Trump’s administration seeks to ensure stricter adherence to immigration laws.
The federal authorities, including ICE and the National Guard, have gained a more visible presence in Washington D.C., with a clear mission to restore public safety. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security remarked, “Our message is clear: Criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the United States.” This bolstered enforcement signals a new era of intensified actions against illegal immigration in the nation’s capital, aiming to reclaim areas that have historically been impacted by crime related to undocumented individuals.
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