Protesters are continuing to speak out against the Trump administration’s recent takeover of policing in Washington, DC, with some likening it to an “invasion” despite a decrease in crime rates.

Unnamed demonstrators gathered on a pedestrian bridge on the I-95 in Virginia near the city this week, expressing concerns that “our systems are being assaulted.”

“These National Guard members are like the sons and daughters of my friends,” one woman shared with Fox News Digital. “They are sacrificing time away from their families. It’s disheartening and un-American to see them being deployed against fellow Americans with weapons. It feels like an invasion. We are not Russia, we are the United States of America.”

The DC Police Union has reported a significant drop in crime rates since President Donald Trump announced the takeover earlier this month. Notably, there have been no reported homicides in the city in the past week.

Alongside the National Guard, various federal agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI are now patrolling the capital city. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued an order requiring local officers to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, challenging the city’s sanctuary policies.

Bondi celebrated the recent progress, stating, “719 arrests and 91 illegal guns seized in Washington, DC. Just yesterday, we made 40 arrests, confiscated 5 illegal firearms, and carried out 36 ICE arrests, including a suspected MS-13 gang member. Thank you, President Trump, for your steadfast support in making DC safe again!”

President Trump has hinted at further actions in a recent post on Truth Social, declaring, “Washington, D.C. is SAFE AGAIN! The city is seeing a resurgence, and our D.C. National Guard and Police are doing an outstanding job. They are on the frontlines and are not backing down!”

“As troubling as it may sound, there have been no murders this week for the first time in memory. Mayor Muriel Bowser must immediately address the inaccurate crime statistics, or face the possibility of a complete Federal takeover of the City! Washington D.C. will soon thrive again!!!” the president added.

While acknowledging the decrease in crime rates, another protester expressed reservations about the necessity of declaring a crime emergency in Washington D.C.

“I believe we are venturing into a territory where we are straying from the law, neglecting our duties to the people,” he voiced.

“I am pleased to see a decline in crime, but it is not surprising when you have troops and law enforcement heavily present on the streets,” he continued. “The issue lies in creating a crisis out of a situation that did not warrant one.”