The White House said its deployment of the National Guard in the nation’s capital is already paying off — and that more arrests are coming, including of homeless populations.
“While we are targeting criminals and trying to remove criminals off of the streets, we also want to make D.C. safe and beautiful, and that involves removing mentally disturbed individuals and homeless encampments as well,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday.
President Donald Trump has long criticized Washington, alleging the city is crime-ridden and has called its homeless encampments “unsightly.” He said on Sunday that homeless people in the city must leave “IMMEDIATELY.”
The next day, he declared federal control of the District of Columbia’s police force and also deployed the National Guard. The actions, drawing from the Home Rule Act of 1973, came after a former Department of Government Efficiency employee was assaulted during an attempted carjacking earlier this month.
But Trump offered no details on his plans to address homelessness in the city.
Leavitt elaborated on the plans Tuesday, saying law enforcement will break up homeless encampments and potentially put people behind bars.
“Homeless individuals will be given the option to leave their encampment, to be taken to a homeless shelter, to be offered addiction or mental health services, and if they refuse, they will be susceptible to fines or to jail time,” she said.
She cited two specific provisions of D.C. law that she said would justify such action: one on crowding and obstructing and the other on occupation of public space.
There are about 800 unsheltered people in the city each night, according to the Community Partnership, an organization that works with the homeless in D.C.
Leavitt credited the surge in enforcement to arrests on Monday evening. Leavitt said approximately 850 officers and agents flooded the city, making 23 arrests and seizing six illegal handguns. The arrests “consisted of homicide, firearms offenses, possession with intent to distribute narcotics, fare evasion, lewd acts, stalking, possession of a high capacity magazine, fleeing to elude in a vehicle, no permits, driving under the influence, reckless driving and a bench warrant,” she said.
She did not clarify whether the National Guard, local police officers or other agents made these arrests.
“This is only the beginning,” Leavitt said. “Over the course of the next month, the Trump administration will relentlessly pursue and arrest every violent criminal in the District who breaks the law, undermines public safety and endangers law-abiding Americans.”
During the conference, Leavitt did not directly answer when asked if Trump was interested in legislation ending home rule, but said he is “very much still interested in working with Congress to address many of the issues that have plagued Washington, D.C.”