FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Laura Trask
Director, Development & Communications
[email protected]
Washington, D.C. (August 11, 2025) – Today, President Trump announced his administration will seize control of the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Department and will deploy the National Guard into the nation’s capital.
“This unprecedented federal takeover undermines local governance and sets a dangerous precedent for civil liberties,” said Paula Fitzgerald, Ayuda’s Executive Director. “If the Administration is truly concerned about public safety, it would not pursue sweeping militarization nor would it criminalize the residents who call this city home.”
Ayuda is deeply concerned about the disproportionate harm this action could cause to D.C.’s vibrant immigrant communities. Many immigrants — particularly those who are undocumented or have mixed-status families—already fear law enforcement because of the risk of immigration enforcement, language barriers, and past trauma. Federalizing the police and deploying the National Guard will only heighten these fears, deterring victims from reporting crimes, seeking protection from abuse, or accessing essential services.
Crime in D.C. has been declining because of community-based prevention and services — not heavy-handed federal intervention. D.C.’s immigrant residents are integral to the city’s cultural and economic life, yet many face systemic barriers to safety and justice. Ayuda calls for public safety strategies that build trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement, not erode it.
Ayuda stands in solidarity with all D.C. residents and urges solutions rooted in community engagement, evidence-based policy, and respect for democratic self-governance — not political theater and authoritarian overreach.
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About Ayuda:
Ayuda provides direct legal, social, and language access services to low-income immigrants in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Since 1973, Ayuda has served more than 150,000 immigrants throughout the region. Ayuda is the only nonprofit service provider in the area that provides a wide range of immigration and family law assistance, social services, and language access support for all immigrants – including women, men, and children – from anywhere in the world. Visit www.ayuda.com to learn more.
