The Federal Bureau of Investigation has stepped up operations in Washington, DC, after President Donald Trump ordered the removal of homeless people from the city as part of a broader crime crackdown, American-based news, Axios, reported on Sunday.
Trump, in remarks over the weekend, demanded that homeless residents “move out immediately” and pledged to relocate them “far from the capital.” He vowed to restore Washington’s image as “the most beautiful capital in the world” and blamed its current state on “tents, squalor, filth, and crime.”
Addressing offenders directly, Trump warned, “Criminals, you do not have to move out. We’ll put you in jail where you belong.”
The FBI’s Washington Field Office confirmed that its agents are part of an “increased federal law enforcement presence” in the city. The deployment follows Trump’s executive order, D.C. Safe and Beautiful, which established a task force to tackle crime and expand federal enforcement.
While overall crime rates in Washington have generally declined, Axios noted that arrests for nonviolent offenses have risen since the initiative began. A White House spokesperson said the heightened police presence has already led to the removal of weapons and illegal drugs from the streets “in just a few nights” and prevented “numerous potential crimes.”
Officials have not disclosed how many FBI agents are involved, but confirmed the increase is tied to efforts against violent crime. Other reports suggest the US military is preparing to activate part of the DC National Guard for possible deployment.
Trump is scheduled to hold a White House press conference on Monday to discuss crime reduction and “beautification” efforts in the capital.