White House threatens homeless with imprisonment

WASHINGTON - The White House on Tuesday threatened homeless people in Washington with imprisonment following a controversial intervention involving police and the deployment of the National Guard in the United States (US) capital, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.

"Homeless individuals will be given the option to leave their encampment, to be taken to a homeless shelter to be offered addiction or mental health services, and if they refuse, they will be susceptible to fines or to jail time again," US President Donald Trump's spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said at a press conference.

In an unprecedented move, Trump declared a state of emergency in Washington on Monday due to allegedly rampant crime and according to his own statements, deployed 800 National Guardsmen in the city.

President Donald Trump announced Monday that he was deploying National Guard troops and putting the Washington police force under federal control to tackle crime in the US capital. Photo by Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP

Additionally, he temporarily placed the police in the Washington capital district under the command of US Attorney General Pam Bondi.

There is no evidence of an increase in criminal offences.

Washington's mayor disputes Trump's account

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser disputed Trump's account, telling a radio station that "the numbers simply do not justify this measure," and noting the city's lowest crime rates in 30 years.

She added that the city and police would nevertheless work in a cooperative manner.

Bondi wrote on X that she had a "productive meeting" with Bowser.

Trump had already threatened to evict homeless people beforehand.

"The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY," Trump wrote on his social media site Truth Social late on Sunday, posting photos showing tents and litter along the roadside.

"We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital."

Leavitt commented on Tuesday that the government is still considering this option. - BERNAMA-dpa