Since August 11, 2025, D.C. National Guard troops, troops from other states, and federal law enforcement agents have patrolled the District’s streets.
Encountering Law Enforcement and Military Troops in D.C.
No matter what uniform they wear, federal agents and military troops are bound by the Constitution, including our rights to peaceful assembly.
Encountering Law Enforcement And Military Troops In D.C. Explore Your Rights.
For the more than 700,000 people who call D.C. home — and the many more who visit the capital every day — the federal government’s militarized presence is impossible to ignore. Armed National Guard troops are stationed in metro stations, at parks, and on popular streets filled with bars and restaurants, costing taxpayers an estimated $1 million a day. Armored military vehicles run red lights and cause accidents in quiet neighborhoods, while heavily-armed, often masked federal agents violently arrest people who are immigrants, and people of color while refusing to identify themselves or provide any information to the bystanders trying to help.
At the ACLU, we are making clear to Congress that troops do not belong on our streets and urging Congress to pass the VISIBLE Act, which would ban federal agents from hiding their identities. We also know that no matter what agency someone is with—whether federal or local, law enforcement or the military—the Constitution constrains how government employees can treat us.
If you’re in a city where law enforcement or military troops are present, it’s important to know your rights. If you are stopped on the street, you may ask, “Am I free to go?” If the answer is “yes,” you are free to walk away. If arrested or detained, you have the right to remain silent. You also have the right to refuse an government official’s request to search your belongings or car, though sometimes they can do so anyway. If you witness or document police or military activity, you generally have the right to record in public spaces as long as you do not interfere with law enforcement activity.
If asked about your immigration status, you can remain silent, though if you are not a U.S. citizen, the law may require you to carry with you and provide specific immigration documents for your specific immigration status when an immigration agent requests your immigration papers. If you do not have these papers or if you choose to remain silent regarding immigration or citizenship status, an immigration officer might detain you for longer to verify this information. There may also be immigration and other legal consequences if you make this choice. Never lie or present false documents.
The threats to our rights and safety are real, but so is our power and resilience. Knowing our rights is critical to how we hold power accountable.