Donald Trump, President of the United States, announced this Sunday his intention to “immediately” expel all homeless population from the capital, Washington D.C., as part of a plan to reduce crime and “reclaim” the city.
PUBLICIDAD
In a message posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared that homeless individuals will be relocated “to places where they can go, but will be far from the capital.” Additionally, he warned criminals that “they will end up in jail, where they belong.”
PUBLICIDAD
The president announced that he will hold a press conference on Monday to detail the plan, which could include the declaration of federal control over Washington D.C., something that does not solely depend on his authority, as it requires a law passed by Congress.
Increased security in the capital
Trump justified the measure as an urgent action to make “the capital more beautiful and safer than ever,” comparing the speed of this action to border policy.
The announcement comes after an employee of the Department of Governmental Efficiency was injured during an alleged attempt to steal his car, which led the president to reiterate his intention to take greater control over security in the city, including options such as deploying the National Guard.
Although the Home Rule Act of 1973 grants residents of Washington D.C. the power to elect local authorities and approve their own laws, this legislation allows the president to assume security powers in cases of emergency, a measure that could be legally challenged.
Since his return to the White House, Trump has threatened to impose federal control in the city, which currently has more than 5,600 homeless people, according to data from the Department of Housing from 2024, and faces high crime rates.