Trump threatens emergency in D.C. over lack of immigration enforcement

President Trump threatened Monday to call for a national emergency and exercise federal authority in the District for the city government’s failure to enforce immigration laws.

The president blamed “radical left Democrats” for pressuring Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser to halt the Metropolitan Police Department’s cooperation with federal agents in his illegal immigration crackdown after the 30-day emergency surge of federal forces ended last week.

“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,” Mr. Trump posted early Monday on Truth Social.

“If I allowed this to happen, crime would come roaring back,” he posted. “To the people and businesses of Washington, D.C., Don’t worry, I am with you, and I won’t allow this to happen.”

Ms. Bowser had said earlier this month that Metropolitan Police would assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after Mr. Trump federalized D.C. police for the crime crackdown.

But just before the emergency expired on Sept. 10, Ms. Bowser said Metropolitan Police would no longer participate in the effort.

“Immigration enforcement is not what MPD does, and with the end of the emergency, it won’t be what MPD does in the future,” the mayor said Sept. 2.

The Washington Times reached out to the mayor’s office for comment.

Immigration-related arrests accounted for 40% of the 2,310 people taken into custody during the president’s federal operation in the District. That included several alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and the Salvadoran gang MS-13. Officials have not provided further information on who the suspected gang members are and what kinds of criminal activities they were involved in while in the District.

The augmented patrols by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations did produce significant drops in crimes. Between Aug. 11 and Sept. 10, MPD data showed there were seven fewer homicides year-over-year in the District. Robberies fell by nearly 60% in that time range and carjackings dropped by more than 70%.

Although there were slight increases in weapons assaults and sex abuse incidents during the surge, violent crime overall declined by 40%, according to police statistics.

Ms. Bowser did create a new operations center to advise federal authorities on the District’s most pressing public safety issues, such as continuing to cut down on violence and taking guns off the street.

But Ms. Bowser and members of the D.C. Council, which is made up almost entirely by Democrats, have repeatedly argued that Mr. Trump’s crime emergency was declared on a false premise since violent crime already was at a 30-year low.

Mr. Trump has countered by mentioning that the Metropolitan Police Department is plagued by shoddy crime statistics. The president’s favorite example is the suspension of an MPD commander who is accused of fudging the numbers to make the city appear less dangerous.

The president has broad latitude to declare national emergencies, with Mr. Trump exercising the power to enact his policies along the U.S. southern border, in global trade disputes and to expedite his preferred energy production methods, such as mining.

The president also has the authority to deploy the D.C. National Guard, which is not under the command of the mayor.