President Donald Trump has declared his intention to declare a national emergency and federalise Washington, D.C., after Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the city police would stop cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The dispute focuses on sharing information about undocumented immigrants, heightening tensions between federal and local authorities.
More than 2,000 federal troops have been deployed to the capital, a move criticised as federal overreach. This follows Trump’s August deployment of National Guard troops to address what he described as rising crime, amid protests opposing the federal presence.
On Truth Social, Trump hailed a sharp crime reduction linked to the federal surge, saying, “In just a few weeks. The ‘place’ is absolutely booming… for the first time in decades, virtually NO CRIME.”
Although Bowser previously supported cooperation with federal law enforcement, her recent refusal marks a shift. Unlike state National Guards, Washington’s guard answers directly to the president, enabling swift federal action.
Trump blamed “Radical Left Democrats” for influencing Bowser and warned crime would surge if police stopped cooperating with ICE.
He then reassured Washington residents: “DON’T WORRY, I AM WITH YOU, AND WON’T ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. I’ll call a National Emergency, and Federalize, if necessary!!!”
The length and extent of federal control remain unclear, with civil rights groups expressing concern over the militarisation of the capital and potential threats to local autonomy and civil liberties.