Trump Vows to Call National Emergency in Washington DC Over ICE Dispute

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is prepared to declare a national emergency and federalize Washington, D.C., escalating a showdown with Mayor Muriel Bowser over cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The dispute centers on Bowser’s refusal to provide ICE with information about individuals living in the city illegally. Trump warned that if the Metropolitan Police Department stopped working with immigration authorities, crime would “come roaring back.” He vowed: “To the people and businesses of Washington, D.C., DON’T WORRY, I AM WITH YOU, AND WON’T ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. I’ll call a National Emergency, and Federalize, if necessary!!!”

The clash comes weeks after Trump deployed more than 2,000 National Guard troops to patrol the capital, citing a surge in crime. The move sparked protests across the city, with thousands marching against what critics have described as an unprecedented federal takeover of local policing. Trump has defended the deployments, insisting that “for the first time in decades, virtually NO CRIME” exists in the city.

Earlier this summer, the president placed D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal authority and authorized federal officers, including ICE agents, to patrol the streets. It remains unclear when or if those powers will be lifted.

Bowser, who has previously credited the federal presence with reducing crime rates, has not yet commented on Trump’s latest threat.

The standoff highlights the unusual status of the D.C. National Guard, which unlike state guard units, reports directly to the president rather than a governor. By threatening to invoke a national emergency, Trump would consolidate even greater authority over the capital, deepening concerns about federal overreach in a city without full statehood rights.

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