Another alleged Tren de Aragua gang member was arrested in Washington, D.C., Monday night, as Attorney General Pam Bondi continues reporting arrest statistics following the federal law enforcement takeover of the capital.
The Department of Justice reports that more than 1,094 arrests have been made, and 115 illegal firearms have been seized so far.
“87 more arrests and 4 illegal firearms seized last night in Washington, DC — where not a single carjacking has occurred over the past week. We also arrested another Tren de Aragua gang member and a man caught burning our American flag in Lafayette Park. Make DC Safe Again!” Bondi posted to X on Tuesday morning.
Bondi also announced the previous day that another alleged Tren de Aragua member, a Venezuelan-based gang, was taken into custody. Recent arrests have included individuals with immigration-related charges and suspected MS-13 ties.
President Donald Trump ordered the federal takeover earlier this month, deploying the National Guard from multiple states along with federal agencies including ICE and the FBI to conduct operations in the city.
The new law enforcement presence supplements the Metropolitan Police Department, which now has federal designee Terry Cole, administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, overseeing operations.
Last week, the president signaled the crackdown could expand further.
“Washington, D.C. is SAFE AGAIN! The crowds are coming back, the spirit is high, and our D.C. National Guard and Police are doing a fantastic job. They are out in force, and are NOT PLAYING GAMES!!! As bad as it sounds to say, there were no murders this week for the first time in memory,” Trump posted to Truth Social on Friday.
“Mayor Muriel Bowser must immediately stop giving false and highly inaccurate crime figures, or bad things will happen, including a complete and total Federal takeover of the City! Washington D.C. will soon be great again!!!” he added.
Trump issued an executive order eliminating cashless bail for individuals arrested in D.C. on Monday, sparking immediate criticism from local Democrats.
“Pre-trial detention should depend on whether someone is a flight risk or a threat to the public — not whether they can afford bail. Cash bail creates a two-tiered justice system where poor people stay locked up simply because they cannot afford bail,” D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb wrote on X Monday night.
“This Executive Order disregards effective, data-driven policies purely for political purposes — something every American should be alarmed by. Public safety and justice are enhanced when local governments can exercise local control. This blatant federal overreach violates the fundamental principle of self-governance this country was founded on and will not make us safer,” Schwalb added.
