The FBI is reporting a significant decline in violent crime both nationally and across the North Texas region, according to newly released data from the agency’s 2025 Crime in the Nation Report.
Nationwide, approximately 1.1 million violent crimes were reported, marking a 9.3 percent decrease compared to the previous year. The figures cover offenses including murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault and non-negligent manslaughter.
North Texas saw similar improvement, with a 9 percent overall drop in violent crime. That includes a 12 percent decline in murders, a 13 percent drop in robberies, a 7 percent decrease in sexual assault cases and an 8 percent reduction in aggravated assaults.
Dallas FBI Special Agent in Charge Joe Rothrock attributed the progress in part to strengthened collaboration between federal and local law enforcement agencies. One major initiative was Operation Red Card, a targeted enforcement effort that swept through dozens of cities across North and East Texas ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
“Those federal prosecutions range from narcotics and firearms violations up to robberies and kidnappings” Rothrock said. “We see those targeted short-term surges as really effective in identifying those most violent.”
The FBI also expanded its footprint in high-crime areas of Fort Worth through Operation Safe Neighborhood. A separate statewide operation called Operation Soteria Shield brought together 90 law enforcement agencies over one month and resulted in 270 arrests along with the rescue of more than 80 child victims.
Rothrock noted that the statistics carry some limitations. Roughly 17,000 of the nation’s more than 19,000 law enforcement agencies report data into the FBI’s program meaning the figures represent a broad but not entirely complete picture.
“It is generally referred to as an estimate because it is the reported information from law enforcement agencies” he said adding that the data still reflects a meaningful and significant national trend.
Rothrock also acknowledged that the FBI has increased its cooperation with immigration enforcement agencies over the past 18 months as part of efforts to target violent offenders who are in the country illegally. When pressed on whether he agrees with President Trump’s claim that the crime decline is linked to the administration’s immigration crackdown Rothrock stopped short of endorsing that position directly.
“It’s with the eye towards identifying those bad actors in our communities that are driving violent crime” he said “and if that’s a tool that helps us to address violent crime then we’ll continue to use it.”
