DC Police Chief Issues Immigration Notification Order
On Friday, DC Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith authorized officers to inform Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) about suspected undocumented immigrants, even if those individuals aren’t in MPD custody, including cases stemming from traffic stops.
Smith’s directive, first highlighted by NBC Washington, also allows officers to assist in transporting immigrants detained by federal authorities.
Interestingly, while Washington, D.C., isn’t classified as a sanctuary city by the Trump administration, it has laws that limit collaboration with federal immigration officials.
Chief Smith’s order explicitly states that DC police are not to investigate the immigration status of individuals unless there are federal immigration warrants involved for arrests.
Moreover, officers are prohibited from notifying federal agencies about undocumented immigrants in their custody and may hold suspects who are questioned by the Immigration Bureau or those who request to remain beyond their scheduled release time.
On a related note, President Trump signed an executive order earlier this week, placing MPD under federal oversight for a month, naming General Pam Bondy as the officer in charge.
Mayor Muriel Bowser asserts that Smith continues to report to her, whereas Bondy claims he is making service requests under the Home Rules Act of 1973.
Historically, the federal government has intervened in DC’s operations before. A notable instance occurred in 1995, during Bill Clinton’s presidency, when a financial management board was created to oversee the district’s budget after a significant deficit.
This board was dissolved in September 2001 after local lawmakers managed to maintain balanced budgets for four consecutive years.
Recently, Trump’s administration stepped up efforts to combat crime, which followed notable incidents, including an attack involving a former government employee. The aim is to curb carjackings and other criminal activities.
In a significant operation early Thursday, law enforcement arrested 45 individuals, among them 29 for immigration-related offenses and 16 for violent crimes, along with three firearm-related incidents. FBI Director Kash Patel noted that some of the suspects face serious charges, including assaults on federal officials and drug trafficking.
“These results are achieved nightly thanks to the collaborative efforts of the federal task force with the Metropolitan Police Department,” said White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt during an interview. She also mentioned that Democrats seem to incite confusion among criminals, while Trump is focused on prosecuting them.
Smith has emphasized the positive impact of additional personnel on crime reduction within the district.
“Just remember, we’re talking about an extra 500 personnel in D.C.,” she stated in an interview. “The increased presence is evidently beneficial in our efforts.”
