In the last seven months, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has made a dramatic increase in arrests in Washington, D.C.—more than 1,200 in total. That is a 1,300 percent rise compared to the 85 arrests made in the city in the first seven months of last year. This change began when President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to take a stronger role in the capital, beginning in August 2024. The move came after continued concerns about rising crime, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration in the city.
The federal government’s direct involvement in D.C. law enforcement is unusual. As the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. is not a state, and its local government often leans heavily on federal support. In this case, ICE worked alongside the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Park Police to identify and arrest individuals who were in the country illegally and had criminal records or outstanding warrants.
This coordinated effort reflects a broader trend across the country. According to reports, ICE has signed 520 cooperation agreements with law enforcement agencies in 35 states since January. These agreements allow local police to work more closely with federal immigration authorities. Some of these agreements are known as “287(g) partnerships,” a program that gives local officers the ability to act like immigration agents under federal supervision.
The results in D.C. suggest that these partnerships can lead to quick changes. Residents in the city have long complained about increased crime and a lack of safety in public areas. With hundreds of arrests in just a few months, the city’s landscape may be shifting.
But the success of these operations has also sparked backlash, especially from critics of ICE and President Trump’s immigration policies. Some activists and Democratic politicians argue that these arrests are unfair or target people who are not dangerous. Others say federal agents should not be involved in local policing.
Still, the evidence from Washington, D.C. points to a clear connection between federal involvement and a sharp drop in criminal activity linked to illegal immigration. The arrests target individuals who already had criminal records or were accused of serious offenses. ICE has emphasized that their goal is not to go after all undocumented immigrants, but to remove those who pose a threat to public safety.
However, the debate over immigration enforcement has become more intense. In Texas, for example, ICE facilities have been targeted by violent attacks. In one case, in Dallas, a gunman attempted to shoot into an ICE office. Although no one was injured, the Department of Homeland Security later said the shooter had left behind bullets with “Anti-ICE” written on them. In another incident, eleven people were arrested for trying to storm an ICE detention center in Alvarado, Texas, on July 4.
These events underline the political divide surrounding immigration enforcement. While supporters of Trump’s policies see ICE’s actions as a much-needed return to law and order, opponents argue that the heavy-handed approach creates fear and division.
One of the main questions raised by this situation is whether federal law enforcement should step in when local governments fail to maintain public safety. In many large cities, especially those controlled by Democrats, crime and homelessness have surged in recent years. Critics say local leaders have become too soft on crime or too focused on political messaging to deal with the real problems on the ground.
In the end, the numbers out of Washington, D.C. show what can happen when the federal government acts decisively. Over 1,200 arrests in seven months is a major shift from the patterns seen earlier. Whether this model can be repeated in other cities remains to be seen. But for now, the dramatic increase in ICE activity in the capital stands as a case study in what federal-local partnerships can accomplish when public safety is made a top priority.
