Rescinding Orders and Reinforcing Federal Control in Washington, D.C.

The Attorney General has revoked several executive directives previously issued by the DC police leadership that limited officers’ ability to arrest illegal migrants. She emphasized that Washington, D.C., will no longer function as a sanctuary city under the current administration.

In a recent statement, she declared, “DC will not be a sanctuary city. Protecting criminal aliens will not be tolerated.” This came after she issued a new directive nullifying the orders issued earlier the same day by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Pamela Smith.

The revoked order had instructed police officers to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) only when transporting apprehended migrants or sharing information during traffic stops. It also prohibited police from querying databases about a person’s immigration status or making arrests solely based on federal immigration warrants.

The directive further restricted police from alerting ICE regarding the release of jailed illegal migrants or sharing images and details, thereby limiting federal immigration enforcement’s access and questioning rights.

Attorney General Bondi accused local officials of shielding criminal aliens and warned that such policies would encourage criminals to seek refuge in the city. “They’re trying to protect criminal aliens,” she said, asserting that the city risks becoming a haven for illegal migrants if policies remain unchanged.

Additionally, Bondi appointed Terry Cole, head of the Drug Enforcement Agency, as the “Emergency Police Commissioner” for DC, granting him authority to command police operations and exercise the powers of the police chief while the force remains under federal oversight. Existing department leadership must now obtain Cole’s approval before issuing new directives to officers.

Bondi made it clear that all police interactions involving federal immigration enforcement require cooperation: “If they have information about an illegal alien in DC, they must share it with ICE and Homeland Security.”

The move comes amid increased federal efforts to address crime in the district, including the deployment of the National Guard and additional law enforcement personnel, which has led to numerous arrests related to violent crimes and illegal activities.