National Guard troops arrived in Washington on Tuesday following President Trump’s order that 850 members be deployed to the nation’s capital for what he described as a “public safety emergency.”

Trump has also taken over the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), a move that will span 30 days. Terry Cole, the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will lead the MPD and report directly to Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that the first night of federalization in the District resulted in 23 arrests for crimes including homicide, illegal firearm possession, possession of an illegal substance with the intent to distribute, and stalking, among others.

Leavitt said the administration intends to remove all homeless encampments by enforcing laws that already on the books. She said the homeless would be given the option to go to a shelter for addiction or mental health services before they’re arrested and removed.

“The MPD, with the support of the new federal agencies…are going to enforce the laws that are already on the books here in Washington, D.C.,” Leavitt said. “For far too long these laws have been ignored and the homelessness problem has ravaged the city.”

Pockets of protests emerged in Washington on Monday night after Trump’s move, which is seen by many political leaders and local residents as an affront to the District’s sovereignty.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro warned Monday night this is “just the beginning.”

“President Trump has rightfully declared an emergency crisis of crime and deployed the National Guard, the ATF, the DEA, the FBI, so that criminals know now that we see them,” Pirro told Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity. “We are watching them and we are gonna make them accountable. But make no mistake, Sean, this is just beginning.”

Trump’s move infuriated local political leaders and raised alarm among national Democrats, who see it as a vast overreach in authority.

Still, there are signs local leaders are working with the federal government on the enforcement efforts.

Bondi said she had a “productive meeting” with Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser (D).

“We agreed that there is nothing more important than keeping residents and tourists in Washington, D.C. safe from deadly crime,” Bondi posted on X.

Bowser has called Trump’s actions “unsettling and unprecedented,” although she acknowledged that it “may be positive” to “have more law enforcement presence in neighborhoods.”

Trump’s threat to send federal troops to other blue states has Democratic leaders on edge.

Washington, D.C., is deep blue, with 90 percent of resident having voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in last year’s election. The president has also called out several other blue cities, including Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.

“Sending in the national guard would only serve to destabilize our city and undermine our public safety efforts,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) said Monday.

The Hill’s Emily Brooks writes:

“Republicans and conservatives for years — decades, even — had amplified the failures in cities as being the result of Democratic policies and flaunted migration from blue urban centers to red states…Trump’s new fixation on D.C. and takeover of police could give conservatives an opportunity to increase their foothold in urban policy and in cities.”