Dozens arrested in Washington as Trump's law enforcement takeover takes root

Australia Broadcast Center

6 days ago

Local and federal law enforcement officers are being stationed round-the-clock in Washington, DC following US President Donald Trump's unprecedented announcement to send in the National Guard.
Earlier this week, the president announced he would take over the city's police department and dispatch the National Guard in the city for at least a month.
The White House has revealed there were 45 arrests in Washington on Wednesday night as Mr Trump's takeover took root.
Twenty-nine were reportedly living in the country illegally.
The push also includes clearing out encampments of homeless people and relocating them far from the city, though details of that plan are unclear.
While the National Guard will be able to temporarily detain people while assisting law enforcement, its troops will not have the power to arrest, according to the Pentagon.
More than 1,650 people are now participating in the law enforcement operation, the White House said.
That includes officers for the FBI and Drug Enforcement Agency being reassigned.
But Mr Trump had no qualms about the possibility of those moves creating security risks.
"Like what? Like what?" Trump said.
A reporter suggested moving federal officials could compromise efforts to stop terrorism.
"Oh, really, terrorism?" the president replied.
The president denied officials he sent into Washington streets to fight crime had been pulled away from priority assignments.
Mr Trump said he is using a "very small force" of soldiers, adding that city police are now allowed to do their job under his takeover of the department.
"And no, they're not being pulled off for anything," he said.
The District of Columbia police chief stepped up cooperation between her officers and federal immigration officials.
Following Chief Pamela Smith's order, officers are now able to share information with immigration agencies regarding people not in custody — such as someone involved in a traffic stop or checkpoint.
Metropolitan Police Department officers may also provide "transportation for federal immigration employees and detained subject", the order said.
The changes, which raise collaboration between the two forces in notable ways, erodes the district's long-standing policy against cooperating with civil immigration enforcement.
Asked about the order in the Oval Office, Mr Trump said it was a "very positive thing".
"That's a great step. That's a great step if they're doing that."
Meanwhile, about a dozen homeless residents in Washington packed up their belongings with help from volunteers from charitable groups and staffers from some city agencies.
Items largely were not forcibly thrown out by law enforcement, but a garbage truck idled nearby.
Several protesters held signs close by, some critical of the Trump administration.
Once the residents had left, a construction vehicle from a city agency cleared through the remains of the tents.
The departures were voluntary, but they came in response to a clear threat from the Trump administration.
Advocates expect law enforcement officers to fan out across DC in the coming days to forcibly take down any remaining homeless encampments.
In Washington Circle, which still contains a few tents, city workers put up signs announcing "general cleanup of this public space" starting at 10am Monday.
For two days, small groups of federal officers have been visible in scattered parts of the city.
But more were present in high-profile locations on Wednesday night, and troops were expected to start doing more missions on Thursday.
AP