A tense scene unfolded near the National Mall on Wednesday afternoon after a detainee attempted to escape federal custody following a traffic stop.
As he was restrained, the man shouted in Spanish that he was “not a criminal” and claimed that he worked in the city. Authorities have not released additional details about the incident, including his immigration status or the reason for the initial stop.
The arrest comes amid a broader federal law enforcement surge in Washington, D.C., ordered by President Donald Trump to address rising violent crime. Hundreds of federal agents and National Guard personnel have been deployed to the capital, with the D.C. Metropolitan Police placed under federal direction following a series of high-profile incidents, including the killing of a congressional intern, the assault of a former Department of Government Efficiency staffer, and the murder of two employees of the Israeli embassy.
The D.C. Police Union has released statistics comparing crime rates before and after the federal intervention, pointing to early indications of its impact on public safety.
One of the most significant declines under the federal takeover has been in carjackings, which have dropped by 83 percent, according to police union data. Robberies are down 46 percent, while overall crime has fallen by 8 percent since federal authorities assumed control.
The city’s homicide rate — the fourth highest in the nation last year — has also decreased by 25 percent. The police union noted, however, that the downward trend in homicides began earlier in the year, prior to the federal intervention.
President Trump assumed authority over D.C. police on August 7, 2025, by invoking the Home Rule Act. His plan included deploying 1,450 police officers and National Guard troops, marking the first time in history that Washington’s local law enforcement was placed directly under federal command.
As part of his crackdown on crime, Trump will soon double the number of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., reports said earlier this week.
At present, about 800 National Guardsmen are stationed in the capital city, with another 200 from Mississippi, 200 from South Carolina, 200 from Ohio, and 300 to 400 from West Virginia set to join them, The Hill reported.
The deployments come after Trump requested the support of state National Guard troops for the effort, with Republican-led states quick to answer his call.
“I’ve approved the deployment of approximately 200 Mississippi National Guard Soldiers to Washington, D.C., to support President Trump’s effort to return law and order to our nation’s capital,” Gov. Tate Reeves, R-Miss., confirmed on X.
“Crime is out of control there, and it’s clear something must be done to combat it. Americans deserve a safe capital city that we can all be proud of,” he added. “I know the brave men and women of our National Guard will do an excellent job enhancing public safety and supporting law enforcement.”
Trump’s sweeping law-and-order crackdown in Washington, D.C., is delivering results for law-abiding residents who want the right to protect themselves.
The task force was created through Trump’s March executive order to revitalize the capital and worked directly with local officials to streamline the District’s firearms process.
“President Trump is not only stopping violent crime in Washington, D.C., he is also streamlining the permitting process for law-abiding residents who want the ability to protect themselves and their families,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a statement.
