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Federal sweep of DC homeless encampments sparks tension
A federal sweep of homeless encampments that began Thursday is triggering concerns among advocates who fear unhoused residents across the city could face arrest or be committed during President Trump’s takeover of the nation’s capital.
WASHINGTON - A federal sweep of homeless encampments that began Thursday is triggering concerns among advocates who fear homeless residents across the city could face arrest or be committed during President Donald Trump’s takeover of the nation’s capital.
Sweep of encampments
What we know:
FOX 5’s Stephanie Ramirez said a few tents remained Friday morning near Washington Circle, just outside George Washington University Hospital after a tense and emotional scene on Thursday when law enforcement arrived around 9 p.m.
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About a dozen D.C. police officers, along with FBI and Secret Service agents, moved in to clear the area. However, attorneys from the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless successfully argued to keep some tents in place, citing a notice issued just one day earlier by the D.C. Department of Health and Human Services requiring residents to vacate by Monday. It’s unclear whether that will hold through the weekend.
Trump has called for the removal of encampments, calling them dirty and bad for business during visits from foreign leaders. While city officials acknowledge health and safety concerns, they say D.C.’s HHS department routinely monitors these sites and is better equipped to offer services.
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What they're saying:
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services (DMHHS) issued the following statement:
The District had a scheduled engagement to close the site at Washington Circle on August 18. However, today, federal officials chose to execute the closure at the site and several others. Ahead of anticipated federal actions, the District has been proactively working with residents experiencing homelessness to connect them to shelter and services. The District has and continues to offer transportation to shelter, storage of items, access to behavioral health and/or medical care, case management and connection to other services as needed. In many cases, we’ve been able to help residents accept offers of shelter. Impacted Washingtonians who seek shelter will not be turned away, as DC is able to expand shelter capacity as needed. DC will continue to support residents with wraparound social services, but the planned engagements are otherwise the purview of the federal agencies.
A White House official confirmed to FOX 5 DC that three multi-agency teams were assigned to begin clearing homeless encampments in the District. Homeless individuals will be allowed to leave the area, be taken to a homeless shelter or offered addiction and mental health services. Anyone who refuses to leave the area could receive fines or jail time.
The official confirmed that over 70 homeless encampments had been removed by U.S. Park Police since March.
Services available
On Thursday, city officials oversaw the clearing of an encampment between the Kennedy Center and the Washington Monument, citing emergency provisions due to its proximity to the highway. A city spokesperson said they acted early, believing federal authorities would target the location next and that local agencies could provide more support to those displaced.
As of Wednesday, D.C. officials reported roughly 1,100 shelter beds available for single adults, with only about 30 open. Legal advocates are urging churches to open their doors and asking residents to safely document any sweeps they witness.
The Source: Information in this article comes from previous FOX 5 reporting.