They're Some of the Country's Most Vulnerable Citizens-and Trump's Newest Target

President Donald Trump federalized D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department and deployed the National Guard to D.C. on Aug. 11. The federal response linked unsheltered homelessness and encampments to the city's alleged crime problem and directed law enforcement to remove tents and threaten removal of people experiencing homelessness. Outreach workers scrambled to place people in hotels or shelters while fear, uncertainty, and frustration increased. At least 20 people were displaced from eight encampments through federally driven closures. Law enforcement rather than normal outreach teams led many closures. City data suggests encampment populations did not meaningfully decrease.

In a move that sent shock waves through city residents, particularly service providers and those experiencing homelessness, President Donald Trump federalized D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department and deployed the National Guard to D.C. on Aug. 11. In his announcement, Trump, who has frequently linked crime and homelessness, framed unsheltered homelessness and encampments as part of the city's alleged crime problem. He directed law enforcement to remove tents and threatened to remove people experiencing homelessness from the city.

In total, Street Sense has confirmed that at least 20 people have been displaced from eight encampments through federally driven closures. Law enforcement told many more people to move from public spaces where people experiencing homelessness often congregate. Closures have largely been led by law enforcement officers rather than the city's normal outreach teams.

Over the following days, outreach workers scrambled to help people find safe places to sleep, putting them up in hotels or moving them into shelters, while fear, uncertainty, and frustration grew. "You're breaking people's lives, and dreams, and their livelihoods. You're messing people's livelihoods up," Temitope Ibijemilusi, who often sleeps downtown, said after law enforcement made him move his belongings. "You're causing more problems, causing more anxiety."

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