Additional National Guard personnel anticipated to deploy in Washington D.C.
In the nation's capital, Washington D.C., the number of National Guard troops is set to increase significantly. As of now, over 1,700 troops are expected to be present, with additional forces arriving from Mississippi, Ohio, and South Carolina.
The exact response from the Pentagon regarding the request for additional personnel from other states remains unclear. However, it is known that the Guard personnel are not responsible for arresting individuals. Instead, they can assist in detaining individuals briefly before handing them over to law enforcement.
Over the weekend, Washington D.C. saw 137 arrests, according to Attorney General Pamela Bondi, who is in charge of the military operation in D.C. and the takeover of local police. The charges in these arrests included DUI, drug offenses, assault, destruction of property, and other crimes.
The FBI Director, Kash Patel, noted that FBI agents were involved in 29 arrests as of Sunday night, but the specific types of crimes these arrests were related to were not disclosed.
Crime levels in Washington D.C. have been a topic of discussion between politicians. Sen. Chris Van Hollen underlined his stance that President Trump deploying the Guard to address concerns of high crime and homelessness amounts to an "abuse of power." Conversely, President Trump claimed credit for turning the city around, stating that crime levels have decreased significantly and are at a 30-year low. However, no evidence was offered to support this claim.
It is worth noting that crime stats released by the city's Metropolitan Police Department show a decrease in violent crime of 26% since 2024. Yet, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser criticized the Trump administration's federal police surge in the city, calling it politically motivated and disconnected from crime in the city.
Currently, the National Guard troops in D.C. are unarmed. However, as more troops arrive, officials expect that they will be armed. The Republican governors known to be sending National Guard units to the White House include Greg Abbott of Texas and Kristi Noem of South Dakota.
In a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President Trump discussed crime in D.C., claiming he had turned the city around in a few days and that Democratic friends had called to thank him. It is unclear whether these claims are substantiated.
In conclusion, the deployment of National Guard troops in Washington D.C. is a developing story, with the exact nature and purpose of their presence still being clarified. The city's crime levels, a point of contention among politicians, continue to be a focus of discussion.
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