The White House on Tuesday delivered a public ultimatum for homeless individuals in Washington, D.C., as President Donald Trump continues his efforts to clean up the city.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that D.C. laws would finally be enforced by federal and local law enforcement officials.
‘For far too long these laws have been completely ignored and the homelessness problem has ravaged the city,’ she said.
Leavitt said that homeless people camping in D.C. would be given the option to leave, be transported to a homeless shelter or receive mental health services.
‘If they refuse, they will be susceptible to fines or jail time,’ she said.
Leavitt praised the U.S. Park Police for removing 70 homeless encampments from city parks since the president signed his first executive order on the issue in March.
‘We also want to make D.C. safe and beautiful. That involves removing mentally disturbed individuals and homeless encampments as well, she said.
Leavitt pointed to two homeless camps left in D.C. federal parks that were ‘scheduled for this week’ for removal.
She praised the efforts by the Metropolitan Police Department and other federal law enforcement officials who stepped up efforts in the city, citing 23 arrests from the previous night.
The arrests were for homicide, firearms offenses, possession with intent to distribute narcotics, fare evasion, lewd acts, stalking, driving under the influence, reckless driving, and fleeing to elude law officials in a vehicle, she detailed.
Leavitt spoke as Trump is sending up to 800 National Guard members into the city, even as Democrats pointed to falling crime statistics in the District.
‘President Trump will not be deterred by soft-on-crime Democrats and media activists who refuse to acknowledge this rampant violence on our streets,’ she said.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a press conference she would work with the Trump administration to improve law enforcement efforts in the city, despite initially disputing the president’s characterization of crime in the city.
‘How we got here or what we think about the circumstances, right now we have more police, and we want to make sure we use them,’ she told reporters.