DC Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith issued an order Friday giving her cops the power to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of suspected illegal immigrants not in MPD custody — including those pulled over for traffic violations.
Smith’s directive, first reported by NBC Washington, also allows cops to assist in transporting migrants detained by the feds.
While Washington, DC, is not included on the Trump administration’s list of declared sanctuary cities, the nation’s capital does have laws on the books restricting cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Smith’s order to members of her force expressly prohibits DC police from investigating a suspect’s immigration status or making arrests “based solely on federal immigration warrants or detainers.”
Capital cops are also barred from notifying the feds of illegal migrants in custody, allowing suspects to be questioned by immigration authorities or holding them past their scheduled release date in response to a detainer request.
On Monday, President Trump signed an executive order federalizing the MPD for 30 days and designating Attorney General Pam Bondi as his point person to oversee the department.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has claimed that Smith still reports to her, while Bondi will “request services from me” in keeping with the 1973 Home Rule Act, which gives the president emergency powers over the nation’s capital in addition to providing the district with limited self-government.
The federal government has stepped in to manage DC’s affairs before, most notably in 1995, when President Bill Clinton signed legislation creating a five-member Financial Control Board to oversee the district’s finances after the local government deficit breached $700 million.
The board was dissolved in September 2001 after DC lawmakers managed to balance their budget for four consecutive years.
Trump’s crackdown followed a series of high-profile crimes, including an attack on former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee Edward Coristine — aka “Big Balls” — while he tried to prevent a carjacking attempt.
Hundreds of federal officers have begun patrolling the streets of DC to root out criminal activity and Trump has said he plans to ask Congress to extend federal authority over the MPD beyond 30 days — and fund beautification efforts for the nation’s capital as well.
Overnight into Thursday morning, law enforcement apprehended 45 people, including 29 for immigration-related offenses, 16 for violent crime and three firearm seizures, FBI Director Kash Patel announced, adding that some of the suspects face charges including assault on a federal officer, possession of child sex abuse material, and drug trafficking.
“These results are happening night after night because of the efforts of this federal task force that are working alongside the Metropolitan Police Department, who agree with this effort,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told “Fox & Friends” Thursday morning.
“While Democrats want to rant and rave and coddle criminals, President Trump wants to put them behind bars.”
Smith has said the additional personnel will have a “positive” impact on the MPD’s efforts to address crime.
“Remember, you’re talking about 500 additional personnel in the District of Columbia,” she told Fox 5 Wednesday.
“As you know, we’ve talked about the fact that we’re down in numbers with our police officers, and so this enhanced presence clearly is going to impact us in a positive way.”
