The White House is ramping up its efforts in Washington, D.C., amid rising tensions spurred by the Trump administration’s focus on immigration enforcement. This has led to pushback from city officials.
On Thursday, Attorney General Pam Bondi aimed to create an “emergency police chief” position to endorse a new policy for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), asking for support from federal immigration authorities.
Bondi stated that she had a “productive meeting” with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, but as the week went on, the administration’s tone shifted. By Monday, Bondi insisted that they needed to “work closely” together.
City officials, initially expressing disappointment, indicated they were working hard to mitigate potential negative outcomes, particularly after Bowser’s legal challenge to the new police oversight.
As the week concluded, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes expressed concerns during a court session about Bondi’s latest orders, though she encouraged cooperation between parties. After a lengthy discussion, the administration agreed to revert the new commissioner’s position to that of a liaison.
“These issues should ideally be resolved between the district and the government, so I’m glad we’re making progress without further judicial intervention,” Reyes remarked.
Despite this apparent truce, the legal tension isn’t fully resolved. Reyes mentioned a new lawsuit might be filed next week, suggesting readiness from the city to initiate urgent legal measures if needed. The judge even provided her mobile number for ongoing communications over the weekend.
“I genuinely hope we can avoid more conflict over this,” said D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwarb at a press briefing following the court session.
This court movement was prompted after Bowser’s initial reluctance to contest the takeover during a news conference earlier in the week. When posed with the question about Trump’s potential actions, Bowser stated that a declared emergency would allow the president’s requests to be fulfilled by the mayor.
However, following Bondi’s directive that empowered drug enforcement manager Terry Cole, the mayor’s stance changed rapidly.
Bondi also retracted a recently issued order that required more collaboration from the MPD regarding immigration enforcement. This included lifting guidelines that protected immigrants without criminal charges from being arrested solely based on their immigration status.
“In my nearly 30 years in law enforcement, I have never encountered a government lawsuit that poses a greater risk to public safety than this directive,” MPD Chief Pamela Smith claimed in a sworn statement.
Bowser conveyed shock at the developments, remarking that the order was surprising, especially following Bondi’s earlier assertion of a fruitful meeting.
Justice Department Prosecutor Yaakov Ross indicated in court that the city bore responsibility for the ongoing dissension about cooperation.
“We’re optimistic about making this work. Delays and confusion are not our intent,” Ross added.
Tensions in the capital have heightened, with 800 National Guard troops dispatched alongside an increase in federal and city law enforcement personnel. Checkpoints have been established, and arrests have nearly reached 200.
Frictions between city and federal officials over policing tactics persist. Nearly half of the 33 arrests made on Thursday involved individuals who were non-U.S. citizens.
Out of the 135 arrests this week, about 75 were categorized under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions.
Federal authorities emphasized their focus on seizing illegal firearms. This reflects a longstanding struggle in D.C. to regulate handguns, particularly following a Supreme Court ruling against previous bans.
“Our priority is to eliminate illegal guns from the streets, and this increased presence should improve safety throughout the city,” Smith stated earlier this week while discussing local collaboration with federal partners.
However, the issue of immigration enforcement remains contentious. Historically, this has been a domain that cities wished to keep out of federal reach, but recent directives might change that.
On Thursday, D.C. officials instructed MPD to boost collaboration with federal authorities. This included sharing citizenship information during traffic stops and enabling local officials to transport detained individuals.
Still, current policies restrict using databases solely for checking immigration status or arresting individuals for civil immigration violations without other pending warrants.
Bondi’s latest orders and existing guidelines were contested late Thursday, prompting the legal challenge against federal overreach.
The city asserts that Bondi has overstepped her authority under the Home Rule Act, which allows only minimal MPD service to the President. While it permits Trump to request federal resources, the city argues it doesn’t authorize him to alter the MPD’s command structure or disrupt local immigration laws.
The lawsuit posits that undermining local protocols on immigration disregards “the insights of MPD leaders familiar with the district’s law enforcement and public safety requirements.”
Yet, even Schwarb’s office acknowledged on Friday that the city might be limited in its ability to resist federal demands that ultimately align with national interests.
“The law under the Home Rule Act permits federal requests for MPD services to address emergencies. If an issue arises close to federal properties that impedes federal operations, it must be addressed even if intertwined with immigration enforcement,” he explained.
“We have made it abundantly clear that our city upholds its laws, and any MPD services provided to meet presidential demands must comply with these laws.”
