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In a statement that has sparked an intense legal and political debate, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced that his Administration will propose the death penalty for anyone who commits murder in Washington D.C.
The announcement was made during the seventh meeting of his Cabinet, as part of a broader strategy to confront what he describes as an "out-of-control criminality" in the capital of the country.
During his speech, Trump was emphatic: "If someone murders someone in the capital, death penalty."
The president justified his proposal as a measure of extreme prevention. "It is a very strong preventive measure," he affirmed.
"I don't know if we're ready for this in this country. But we don't have another option," he added.
The reiteration of the message during his speech set the tone of urgency and determination with which he aims to address the issue of security in Washington:
"If someone kills someone," she insisted, "it will be the death penalty."
According to Trump, his entire Administration supports this initiative, although the announcement has generated multiple reactions, both of support and concern, especially regarding the potential side effects and the constitutional implications that such a measure would have in a city without a local death penalty and under shared federal jurisdiction.
A capital under federal control
This announcement is not an isolated incident; rather, it is part of a broader framework of direct intervention by the federal government in the security affairs of Washington D.C.
On August 11, Trump activated a measure that allowed him to take control of the city's public safety for 30 days, citing a legal provision that authorizes intervention in case of an "emergency."
The intervention was justified by the alleged increase in violence and crime in the capital, despite statistics showing that, although there are high levels of crime, the overall rates remain at their lowest point in the last three decades.
Massive deployment of security forces
As part of this intervention, Trump ordered the unprecedented deployment of military and police resources in the city.
In addition to the 800 members of the Washington National Guard who were initially activated, troops were sent by six states with Republican governors: West Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee.
In total, the number of National Guard personnel deployed in the city amounts to approximately 2,000.
In addition to the military personnel, the capital is being patrolled by several federal agencies: the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Metropolitan Police.
Attorney General Pam Bondi reported that, under this joint operation, 1,094 people have already been arrested and at least 115 illegal weapons have been confiscated.
Complaints from civil organizations
The intensification of federal control has sparked criticism from activists and civil rights organizations.
It is reported that the so-called "war on crime" is being used as a pretext to increase surveillance over vulnerable communities, particularly undocumented migrants.
Various voices have raised concerns about arbitrary detentions by federal agents, particularly from ICE, in operations that seemingly have nothing to do with the fight against homicide-related violence.
Fear among immigrant communities has grown, fueled by the rhetoric and track record of restrictive measures from the current government.
Legal and constitutional debate
Trump's proposal regarding the death penalty raises significant questions about its legal viability.
Washington D.C. formally abolished the death penalty in 1981, and although it holds a special status as the federal capital, a measure of this magnitude would require profound legislative changes and would certainly face multiple challenges in the courts.
Moreover, the selective application of the death penalty by jurisdiction and type of crime—in this case, only for murders committed in a specific area of the country—would raise questions about equality before the law, proportionality, and respect for due process.
For jurists, activists, and experts in public policy, this proposal reflects a punitive approach that overlooks the complexity of the issue of urban crime and may undermine fundamental rights.
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