Trump threatens new DC emergency if police don’t help with ICE enforcement


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Summary

National emergency

President Trump warned he may declare another national emergency in D.C. if local police do not cooperate with immigration authorities.

Cooperation with federal officials

Mayor Bowser extended the Safe and Beautiful Emergency Operations Center to manage public safety, homelessness and city operations while coordinating with federal agencies except for immigration officials.

National Guard in Memphis

Trump announced National Guard deployment to Memphis to address rising crime, with support from both state and city leaders.


President Donald Trump once again put the nation’s capital in the spotlight. After his federal takeover of Washington, D.C., officially expired last week, he warned early Monday that he may declare another national emergency if local police refuse to work with immigration authorities.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that his use of troops and the federal takeover turned Washington into one of the safest capitals in the world, after what he described as years of violence and danger before his intervention.

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In the same post, Trump said Mayor Muriel Bowser was under pressure from what he called “radical left Democrats” and claimed her administration told the federal government that Metropolitan Police officers would not assist ICE in removing, or relocating, what he described as “dangerous illegal aliens.”

“I’ll call a National Emergency, and Federalize, if necessary,” Trump wrote. 

Federal takeover of DC police

On Aug. 11, Trump and his administration assumed control of the Metropolitan Police Department for 30 days, deploying the National Guard and federal officers to try to curb crime and address homelessness in the city. Under federal law, the president can federalize local law enforcement in Washington and deploy the National Guard or other federal troops in response to emergencies or threats to public safety.

The order drew mixed reactions from officials and residents. Some called Trump’s move an overreach of federal power and pointed to crime rates in Washington reaching a 30-year low, while police unions welcomed the help to relieve overworked police officers. 

Bowser keeps emergency operations center active

Mayor Bowser and the D.C. police chief worked with Trump and federal officials during the takeover. On Sept. 2, they vowed to keep the Safe and Beautiful Emergency Operations Center in place as the city adjusted to the presidential emergency declaration. 

Her order also opened the door for continued cooperation with agencies including the FBI, Secret Service, U.S. Marshals and Capitol Police — but did not extend to immigration authorities.

Bowser said the order focuses on public safety, addressing encampments and homelessness, improving the city’s appearance and providing economic support for residents and local businesses.

City officials said outreach teams recently counted 764 people living outdoors, including 81 in tents, a decline from more than 100 tents in July. Since the city’s surge began, about 80 additional people have entered the shelter system.

National Guard being deployed in Memphis

Trump announced Sept. 12 that he is sending National Guard troops to Memphis, Tennessee, to address rising crime in the city. According to Trump, both Republican Gov. Bill Lee and Democratic Mayor Paul Young supported the move.

Speaking on Fox News’ “Fox and Friends,” Trump described Memphis as a city facing serious challenges and said the federal deployment aims to restore safety.

Bowser keeps emergency operations center active

Mayor Bowser and the D.C. police chief worked with Trump and federal officials during the takeover, and on Sept. 2, vowed to keep the Safe and Beautiful Emergency Operations Center in place as the city adjusted to the presidential emergency declaration. 

Her order also opened the door for continued cooperation with agencies including the FBI, Secret Service, U.S. Marshals and Capitol Police — but did not extend to immigration authorities.

Bowser said the order focuses on public safety, addressing encampments and homelessness, improving the city’s appearance and providing economic support for residents and local businesses.

City officials said outreach teams recently counted 764 people living outdoors, including 81 in tents, a decline from more than 100 tents in July. Since the city’s surge began, about 80 additional people have entered the shelter system.

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Why this story matters

The developments in Washington and Memphis show how federal and local leaders navigate public safety as the president weighs the use of emergency powers in American cities.

Federal authority

Debates over the federal government's power to take control of local police and deploy National Guard troops shape responses to public safety, crime and emergencies in cities.

City-federal cooperation

Interactions between city leaders and federal authorities influence approaches to issues like crime, homelessness and public safety, while differing stances on immigration create operational challenges.

Crime and public safety

Efforts to address crime and improve public safety, particularly in Washington, D.C. and Memphis, affect residents and policy approaches, with various leaders presenting competing views on best practices.

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Behind the numbers

Crime in Washington, D.C., declined during the federal intervention, with reporting from multiple outlets citing decreases such as a 53% drop in homicides and an overall 26% decline in violent crime compared to 2024. The real-world impact is debated among sources for causes.

Community reaction

Several sources note that thousands of residents protested the deployment of National Guard troops and federal takeover in Washington, D.C., while local immigrant communities expressed fear due to increased immigration enforcement activities.

Context corner

Washington, D.C.'s unique status means the National Guard reports directly to the president rather than a governor. The Home Rule Act allows federal control of local police under special circumstances for a limited time, reflecting historic tensions over federal and local authority.

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Fear No Fact.

Don't just take our word for it.


Center-rated reporting

According to media bias experts at AllSides

AllSides Center-rated reporting May 2026

Transparent and credible

Awarded a perfect reliability rating from NewsGuard

100/100

Welcome back to trustworthy journalism.

Find out more

Bias comparison

  • Media outlets on the left frame Trump’s threat to federalize D.C. Police as an instance of aggressive “federal overreach,” emphasizing concerns about racial injustice and highlighting that crime rates were already declining before his intervention—casting doubt on Trump’s claims with terms like “takeover” and “meltdown.”
  • Not enough unique coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
  • Media outlets on the right laud the federal presence as a decisive victory against a “crime blight,” using emotionally charged language such as “obscene lawlessness” and portraying Mayor Bowser’s resistance as “balking” that endangers public safety.

Media landscape

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181 total sources

Key points from the Left

  • President Donald Trump threatened to call a national emergency to federalize Washington, D.C., after Mayor Muriel Bowser stated that the police would not cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
  • Mayor Muriel Bowser emphasized that immigration enforcement is not the role of the Metropolitan Police Department and noted the city's crime reduction before Trump's takeover.
  • Trump's military presence in D.C., which includes more than 2,000 National Guard troops, aims to curb crime, despite claims of federal overreach.
  • Democrats, including Rep. Jamie Raskin, criticized Trump's actions as racially motivated and not genuinely focused on crime reduction.

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Key points from the Center

  • President Donald Trump threatened to call a national emergency and "federalize" law enforcement in Washington, D.C., if local police fail to cooperate with immigration authorities.
  • Trump accused "Radical Left Democrats" of pressuring D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to halt cooperation between police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
  • The President claimed he previously sent National Guard troops to D.C. to "re-establish law, order, and public safety" after calling crime "a blight on the capital.

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Key points from the Right

  • President Donald Trump announced he would declare a national emergency and federalize Washington, D.C., if the Metropolitan Police Department ceases cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
  • Mayor Muriel Bowser indicated that D.C. Police would no longer cooperate with ICE, citing pressure from "Radical Left Democrats" as a key factor.
  • Trump accused Mayor Muriel Bowser of yielding to "Radical Left Democrats" and claimed the city's crime rate had decreased significantly due to federal intervention.
  • Following Trump's threat, over 2,000 National Guard troops have been deployed to Washington, D.C., a move seen by critics as federal overreach.

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