President Donald Trump said Friday that he’s planning to send federal law enforcement and the National Guard into Memphis, Tennessee, to lower crime in the city following his surge into Washington, D.C., over the last month.
“We can bring in the National Guard.
“I’m just announcing that now, and we’ll straighten that out — National Guard and anybody else we need.
He said that he has been in constant contact with the Trump administration to develop a multi-phased strategy to combat crime in Memphis.
Bowser said federal law enforcement personnel would remain in the nation’s capital, but the Metropolitan Police Department would stop transporting people detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
After his surge into Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he would be sending the National Guard and federal law enforcement to Memphis, Tennessee, to reduce crime in the city. throughout the past month.
“We’ll be visiting Memphis. Trump stated during an interview on Fox News’ “Fox and Friends” in New York that “Memphis is deeply troubled.”. The mayor is pleased. He’s a Democrat. Additionally, the governor of Tennessee is pleased. We’re gonna fix that just like we did Washington. “..”.
He then brought up the topic of reducing crime in Chicago and New Orleans, as the latter city’s crime rate is a common topic of conversation.
Much larger than D.C, I can fix Chicago. However, we can deploy the military,” Trump stated. “The National Guard can be brought in.”. We’ll take the necessary action. “.
According to Trump, he chose Memphis after a board member of FedEx, which has its headquarters there, mentioned the city’s high crime rate to him.
“We’ll be visiting Memphis. “Trump stated. “We’ll take care of that, National Guard and anyone else we require. I’m just making that announcement now. By the way, if necessary, we will also call in the military. “.
An ICE official told NBC News that Memphis is a “sanctuary city” because its law enforcement officials do not work with the immigration enforcement agency. A request for comment regarding whether ICE intended to increase immigration enforcement in Memphis was not immediately answered.
According to FBI statistics, Memphis has seen between 15,000 and 16,000 violent crimes annually over the past five years, which is thousands more than it was ten years ago. Nonetheless, during the past two years, Memphis’ violent crime rate has decreased.
In addition to robbery, burglary, and larceny hitting 25-year lows, overall crime is at a 25-year low. A Memphis Police Department statement released on Tuesday stated that the rates of murder, aggravated assault, and sexual assault are at their lowest levels in six, five, and twenty years, respectively.
According to a report released in January, undocumented immigrants committed 447 violent crimes, including 11 homicides, in Tennessee between October and December of last year. Undocumented immigrants were involved in 59 violent and nonviolent criminal offenses in Shelby County, Memphis’ home.
Republican Gov. In a statement released on Friday, Bill Lee expressed his gratitude for Trump’s backing and stated that he was scheduled to meet with the president that afternoon to go over the specifics of the plan. He claimed to have been in close communication with the Trump administration to create a multi-phase plan to fight crime in Memphis.
“We are working closely with the Trump Administration to determine the most effective role for each of these agencies to best serve Memphians,” he said, adding that the next phase will involve a comprehensive mission with the Tennessee National Guard, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Memphis Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies.
NBC News’ request for comment was not immediately answered by Memphis Mayor Paul Young’s office.
In a statement posted on X, Memphis City Councilwoman Jerri Green, a Democrat seeking governor next year, called Trump’s use of National Guard forces “both unnecessary and wasteful.”. “.”.
“Federal troops don’t address the underlying causes of crime,” she claimed. It doesn’t increase access to mental health care, provide safe spaces for children to learn and develop, put food on the table, or generate well-paying jobs. “”.
Pastor Keith Norman of Memphis’s First Baptist Church Broad said that the state highway patrol’s heightened presence has contributed to a drop in crime during the past two years. He claimed it would be “an overreach” to send the National Guard to Memphis. “.”.
“For many Memphis residents, the National Guard is also a somewhat traumatic memory. They will recall the National Guard’s presence in 1968 after Dr. Dr. King was assassinated and again in 1978 during a civil service strike that involved the Fire Department and later the Police Department,” Norman said.
In an interview on Friday, Trump admitted that he has “more power” in DdotC. whose representatives report to the federal government, and stated that the administration has a good rapport with Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Trump declared, “We’ve had a great relationship.”. “Everyone is happy, and the mayor initially opposed it. However, after she saw the outcomes, everyone praised her. Crime has been eradicated. “.”.
A federal takeover of the D.C was authorized by Trump’s emergency order. The police force’s 30-day period ended this week, and Congress would have needed to extend it further under a law that gives the city some autonomy.
Bowser said the Metropolitan Police Department would no longer transport individuals detained by the U.S. government, but federal law enforcement officers would stay in the nation’s capital. S. . agents of the Customs and Immigration Department.
“Federal police officers are going to be in the district … federal police officers can enhance the public safety mission of MPD,” she said, adding that the city would revert to the “status quo.”. ”.
Bowser stated last month that there was a decrease in crime as a result of the federal forces being stationed in the nation’s capital.
