By Prime Path Immigration Law Firm Limited USA, on Immigration Updates
On August 11, 2025, President Trump invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act in an executive order to declare a “crime emergency” so his administration could take over the city’s police force. President Trump’s federal law enforcement operation in Washington, D.C. was initially framed as an effort to tackle crime, particularly violent crime. However, an analysis of the operation’s data reveals that more than 40% of arrests over the monthlong surge were related to immigration violations, sparking criticism that the central focus was immigration enforcement rather than addressing crime. The operation led to over 2,300 arrests, including of suspected gang members and individuals linked to violent crimes, but the prominence of immigration related arrests has raised concerns that the operation’s true aim was to expand deportations.
Critics argue that the operation was less about crime reduction and more about advancing President Trump’s immigration agenda, with some suggesting it was a political strategy to emphasize violent crime in Democratic run cities. The surge also fueled fear among immigrant communities, with many altering their routines to avoid arrest. Despite claims from the administration that many of those arrested had criminal records, the link between immigration and violent crime remains unclear. The “crime emergency” executive order is set to expire, but federal forces, including the National Guard, are expected to reman in D.C. as tensions over immigration enforcement persist.
For more information on this, and other immigration matters, contact the attorneys at Prime Path Immigration Law Firm Limited USA today.
Reference:
Alanna Durkin Richer & Rebecca Santana, Over 40% of Arrests in Trump’s D.C. Law Enforcement Surge Relate to Immigration, AP Analysis Finds, MSN (Sept. 9, 2025), https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/over-40-of-arrests-in-trumps-dc-law-enforcement-surge-relate-to-immigration-ap-analysis-finds/ar-AA1Mi3GN?ocid=BingNewsSerp.
