Violent crime rates down in Miami so far this year
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Violent crime fell sharply across the largest U.S. cities in early 2026, extending a nationwide decline that began after the pandemic-era crime spike.
Why it matters: Data from 67 major U.S. law enforcement agencies show violent crime fell across major categories during the first quarter compared with the same period in 2025.
- The declines show up across every major region, suggesting a systemic, nationwide trend.
- The quarterly reports collected by the Major Cities Chiefs Association have been a good measure of trends that are reflected in the annual FBI crime data released in the fall.
By the numbers: Homicides dropped 17.7%.
- Robberies fell 20.4%.
- Rapes declined 7.2%.
- Aggravated assaults decreased 4.8%.
Zoom in: Homicides in the City of Miami dropped by 50%, followed by rapes (39.9%), robberies (31.5%) and aggravated assaults (9.3%).
Zoom out: Some of the nation's biggest cities posted especially dramatic homicide declines in the first three months of 2026.
- Among those that saw sizable percentage drops: Washington, D.C. (64.7%), Philadelphia (54%) and Memphis (34.4%).
- New York City experienced a 31.7% drop in homicides during Mayor Zohran Mamdani's first months in office.
Between the lines: The new numbers complicate the political narrative around crime heading into the 2026 midterms. President Trump has repeatedly described major Democratic-led cities as gripped by violent crime.
The intrigue: Aurora, Colorado — a city Trump repeatedly and falsely singled out as being overrun by Venezuelan immigrant gangs during the 2024 election — saw a 66.7% drop in homicides.
- In response to early reports that crime was dropping to record lows, the Trump administration has changed its tone and has begun touting the declines while crediting its policies.
Yes, but: Some cities still reported increases in certain violent crime categories, such as a 100% spike in homicides in San Diego, even as overall violence fell.
- Police leaders also caution that crime trends can shift quickly heading into the summer months, when violence historically rises.
The bottom line: America's largest cities are continuing to get safer in 2026, even as crime remains one of the country's most politically potent issues.