Violent crime fell sharply across the United States and in the North Texas region over the past year, according to new data released by the FBI. The agency’s 2025 Crime in the Nation Report recorded approximately 1.1 million violent crimes nationally, reflecting a 9.3% decrease compared to the previous year.
North Texas mirrored that trend with a 9% overall drop in violent crime. Specific categories saw notable declines including a 12% reduction in murders, a 13% drop in robberies, a 7% decrease in sexual assault cases and an 8% fall in aggravated assaults.
Dallas FBI Special Agent in Charge Joe Rothrock attributed the improvements to stronger collaboration between federal and local law enforcement agencies. He pointed to several targeted operations as key contributors to the downward trend.
One major initiative was Operation Red Card which swept through dozens of cities across North and East Texas ahead of the FIFA World Cup. The operation resulted in federal prosecutions covering narcotics and firearms violations as well as robberies and kidnappings. Rothrock described these focused enforcement surges as highly effective in identifying the most dangerous offenders.
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 to combat child predators and concluded with 270 arrests and the rescue of more than 80 children.
Rothrock was careful to note the limitations of the data. The report draws from roughly 17,000 of the more than 19,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide meaning some jurisdictions are not represented. The figures also only reflect crimes that were both reported by victims and then submitted by agencies to the FBI making the totals an informed estimate rather than a complete count.
The FBI has also deepened its partnership with immigration enforcement agencies over the past 18 months with a stated focus on individuals in the country illegally who are connected to violent criminal activity. When asked whether he believes President Trump’s immigration crackdown deserves credit for the crime decline Rothrock stopped short of making that direct connection.
He framed the immigration enforcement partnership as one tool among many used to remove dangerous individuals from communities. Rothrock said the FBI will continue using every available resource to drive down violent crime regardless of which agency is involved in the effort.
