Federal enforcement initiatives against crime are set to expand in Chicago and New York, according to President Trump's announcements.
In a recent announcement, President Donald Trump declared a federal crackdown on crime in the cities of Chicago, New York, and Washington D.C. The aim of this initiative is to make these cities safer.
On August 11, Trump announced a National Guard deployment and hinted at a potential federal takeover of the Washington D.C. police department. Last week, he had already ordered 800 National Guard troops to aid law enforcement in Washington, D.C. The specifics of the National Guard deployment and any potential federal takeover of the police department in Washington D.C. remain unclear.
Trump also mentioned that Chicago will likely be targeted first, followed by New York, although no further details about the nature of the federal crackdown in these cities were provided.
Data from Washington police shows a significant drop in violent crime between 2023 and 2024, although this followed a post-pandemic surge. However, allegations against Washington D.C. include being overrun by crime, plagued by homelessness, and financially mismanaged, primarily from Republican politicians.
It is important to note that this federal crackdown comes amidst the Trump administration's revocation of over 6,000 student visas, but this action is not directly related to the current topic.
The National Guard force made available on an unspecified Friday in September consisted of approximately 2,200 National Guard troops. These troops were armed and authorized to use weapons only as a last resort in response to immediate threats of death or serious injury. They patrolled areas including around the White House, the National Mall, train stations, and metro stops.
As the situation develops, more details about the federal crackdown on crime in these cities are expected to be released.
