WASHINGTON – On Friday, the Trump administration decided to maintain control of the police chief in Washington, D.C., reverting back to department management. However, Attorney General Pam Bondy issued a memo instructing district police to collaborate with federal immigration enforcement.
This directive came after a lawsuit was filed on Friday challenging President Donald Trump’s attempt to oversee the D.C. police. Just the night before, the administration had intensified its role in local law enforcement by appointing federal officials as the police department’s emergency chief.
Bondy’s order marks a partial retreat from the prior push to impose full federal control. This shift seems to respond to judges’ concerns about the legality of earlier directives, which had been viewed skeptically. Still, it indicates that even with local laws limiting cooperation between police and immigration authorities, the administration plans to continue pressuring D.C. leaders to assist in federal immigration actions.
The police chief expressed that Trump’s earlier decision would disrupt law and order, arguing that, “In my nearly 30 years in law enforcement, I have never seen governmental action pose a greater threat to law and order than this dangerous directive.”
During a lengthy court session on Friday, both parties presented their arguments before U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes. She has indicated that the law may not permit a complete federal takeover of urban police forces, although it might provide the president with more power than city officials would prefer.
“From my understanding of the law, the president can request assistance, the mayor is obliged to provide it, but the president cannot exert control,” Reyes commented.
The judge urged both parties to reach a compromise and mentioned she would issue a temporary order to block the appointment of a new chief if disagreements persisted.
In court, Trump administration attorney Jaakov Ross contended that sidelining Chief Smith followed an immigration directive aimed at aiding federal authorities. He asserted that the president has substantial authority to dictate the police’s support to Washington.
Officials from Washington were actively working to prevent U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondy from suspending commands related to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s oversight of the D.C. police.
This ongoing police takeover is part of Trump’s broader strategy to test the limits of his legal powers, often invoking obscure laws and emergency scenarios to reinforce his tough-on-crime stance and expedite controversial deportation efforts.
