Overview

• President Trump demanded that homeless individuals leave Washington "immediately," pledging to relocate them "far from the capital" and incarcerate any deemed criminal in a process he likened to border operations.
• The White House announced that federal officers will deploy beginning Thursday night to enforce the order and "protect citizens" in the capital's public spaces.
• Mayor Muriel Bowser and Metropolitan Police data report a 26 percent drop in violent crime this year and reject claims of a recent surge, challenging the administration's law-and-order rationale.
• Local advocates estimate there are about 3,700 to 4,000 people experiencing homelessness in D.C., including roughly 800 sleeping unsheltered, and warn that forced removals could exacerbate humanitarian risks.
• Legal experts and city officials say Trump's plan likely exceeds his authority under the Home Rule Act and could face congressional hurdles or court challenges over unilateral federal intervention.