When now-FBI Director Kash Patel met with me earlier this year ahead of his confirmation vote, I had one urgent plea: Help us end the crime crisis in Memphis. Although he was familiar with the city’s recent struggles with crime, the statistics I shared shocked him.

In 2024, Memphis posted the highest crime rate in the country. It struggled especially with violent crime, seeing at least four times as many murders per capita as notorious crime havens like Lima, Peru, Islamabad, Pakistan, and Mexico City.

Although disturbing, these statistics fail to capture just how badly violence mars daily life for Memphians. In many parts of the city, residents cannot walk outside without fear of being mugged, carjacked, or murdered. This month alone, the city experienced multiple drive-by shootings, including one that claimed the life of a 47-year-old mother.

When I speak with Memphians about the source of this violent crime, they point to the criminal gangs that terrorize the city. Just last month, I met with city leaders who detailed how gangs prey on children during after-school hours—and before parents get home from work—to recruit them into their operations. The gangs know that juveniles are far more likely than adult offenders to be released back to the streets, where they can continue their criminal activity.

This lawlessness is inexcusable for any American city. But it’s especially heartbreaking for Memphis—the home of blues and rock and roll; the logistics hub of America with all five Class A railroads, FedEx’s headquarters, and an international port; and a community with deep cultural and historical traditions.

For years, Memphians have demanded government action to tackle the gang violence that has held the city back for far too long. Yet, time and again, Democrats have enacted soft-on-crime policies that keep criminals on the streets and innocent residents in danger.

No more. To make Memphis safe again, President Trump established a “Memphis Safe Task Force” and is sending the National Guard to the city to work with the FBI, U.S. Marshals, Drug Enforcement Agency, and other federal agencies. It was an honor to join the President at the White House for this announcement last week. In coordination with the Memphis Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and other state agencies, law enforcement will work to lock up repeat offenders, lower violent crime across the city, and restore law and order.

This order marks the latest phase of this administration’s multi-pronged strategy to fight violent crime. This summer in Memphis, the FBI under Director Patel conducted Operation Viper in coordination with the ATF, DEA, and U.S. Marshals, surging federal resources to crack down on crime. In total, there have been over 500 arrests and 100 indictments. Last month, Memphisrecorded the most encouraging crime stats it has seen in years.

By deploying the National Guard to the city, President Trump is building on this success. While National Guardsmen help maintain order and deter crime, Memphis police and federal law enforcement will be freed up to track down criminals and take them off the street.

We saw this strategy succeed in D.C. In just a month, the President’s crime crackdown in our nation’s capital brought car thefts down 36 percent, robberies down 62 percent, and homicides down 57 percent. Authorities conducted more than 1,700 arrests, including of MS-13 and Tren de Aragua gang members, cleared out dozens of homeless encampments, and rescued five missing children.

Tennesseans applaud this success, and they want to see it in their communities, too. By sending federal support to Memphis, President Trump is delivering on his promise to make American cities safe again —ensuring that Memphians can live in peace and reclaim their city from violent criminals.