A multi-agency operation involving U.S. Park Police and other federal entities began in D.C., targeting areas with heavy tourist traffic. Federal officers in marked units will patrol locations such as the National Mall, Union Station, and various parks. Civil rights groups raise concerns about the operation's impact and potential risks, particularly regarding training and accountability of federal law enforcement compared to state and local agencies. The presence of federally enforced stricter penalties complicates the landscape, especially in areas controlled by federal authorities.
"A huge concern is training. When you start injecting entities with a different mission and different way of looking at the world, that can be a recipe for danger," ACLU-D.C. legal director Scott Michelman tells Axios.
"Accountability mechanisms for federal law enforcement - if they violate the Constitution - are so much weaker versus state and local."
"You can come across any agency at any given time," says Sharell Jarvis, an organizer with Free DC, a group that campaigns.
Federal officers will patrol in marked units and uniforms, creating a constant presence in tourist-heavy areas like the National Mall and downtown museums.
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