The first days brought visible change. Crime reports dropped sharply, sirens became less frequent, and some Washington neighborhoods experienced quieter nights than they had in years. For residents and business owners long frustrated by theft and street violence, the shift felt immediate and tangible. But as the numbers fell, a different reality emerged alongside them. Across Washington, D.C., an expanded federal security presence began reshaping daily life. Unmarked vehicles appeared on residential streets. Traffic checkpoints disrupted routine commutes. Immigration enforcement intensified, with a sharp rise in arrests that disproportionately affected immigrant workers, delivery drivers, and mixed-status families. What looked like...
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