Trump Scales Back DC Takeover, but Orders Immigration Crackdown/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Trump administration reversed its plan to replace Washington, D.C.’s police chief, keeping Pamela Smith in her role while ordering the department to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. The move follows a legal battle over Trump’s unprecedented federal intervention in the city’s policing. Immigrant advocates warn of increased ICE patrols and civil rights concerns.
Trump DC Police Agreement Quick Looks
- Trump drops bid to replace D.C. police chief Pamela Smith.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi orders police to assist ICE despite city “sanctuary” laws.
- Federal court skepticism over Trump’s full takeover led to compromise.
- The new directive rescinds local limits on immigration status inquiries.
- National Guard and federal law enforcement presence expands in D.C.
- Immigrant advocates report surge in ICE patrols and arrests.
- Federal authority over D.C. police limited to 30 days without Congress.
- Protesters rally outside police headquarters against federal control.
Deep Look: Trump Administration Keeps DC Police Chief But Orders Immigration Enforcement
WASHINGTON — In a significant shift, the Trump administration agreed Friday to keep Washington, D.C., Police Chief Pamela Smith in her position, abandoning its plan to install a federal official at the helm of the Metropolitan Police Department. The concession came with a major condition: Smith must follow a new directive from Attorney General Pam Bondi to fully cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, overriding local “sanctuary” laws.
From Federal Takeover to Compromise
The reversal came after a heated legal battle between the administration and D.C. leaders, who sued to block President Donald Trump’s unprecedented move to assume control of the city’s police force. The intervention — the first of its kind since the 1973 Home Rule Act granted the District local governance — sparked fierce opposition from city officials, immigrant advocates, and civil rights groups.
On Thursday night, the Trump administration escalated its push by naming Drug Enforcement Administration head Terry Cole as acting chief of police. But during a Friday court hearing, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes expressed deep skepticism over the legality of a complete federal takeover. While Reyes acknowledged the president’s unique authority over D.C., she ruled that such power likely stops short of full operational control.
“The way I read the statute, the president can ask, the mayor must provide, but the president can’t control,” said Reyes, a Biden appointee. She urged both sides to negotiate, warning she would block the appointment of a new chief if no compromise was reached.
Bondi’s New Order
Bondi’s revised directive instructs D.C. police to share information with federal immigration authorities in all cases, including encounters with individuals not in custody, such as during traffic stops or checkpoints. The order nullifies prior Metropolitan Police Department policies that restricted inquiries into immigration status and prohibited arrests based solely on federal immigration warrants.
Chief Smith had already instructed officers to share limited information with immigration agencies earlier in the week, but Bondi dismissed her approach as insufficient. She mandated that any future police directives require approval from Cole, even though Smith remains in charge.
Mayor Muriel Bowser pushed back on social media, writing, “There is no statute that conveys the District’s personnel authority to a federal official.”
Immigrant Communities on Edge
Advocates say the changes are already altering life in the nation’s capital. Anusce Sanai, associate legal director for nonprofit Ayuda, said they are reassessing advice to immigrant clients about interacting with police.
“We always told our clients to call the police. Now, we must be careful,” she said.
Amy Fischer of Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid reported a “significant change” since last Friday, with ICE conducting roving patrols across the city. A hotline for reporting ICE activity has been overwhelmed with calls.
ICE confirmed on social media that several people were arrested in D.C. on Friday, including migrants without permanent legal status. A posted video showed officers handcuffing a person outside a white transport van.
Federal Show of Force in the Capital
The stepped-up enforcement has been accompanied by a visible surge in federal presence. National Guard troops now stand watch over landmarks, Humvees are stationed near Union Station, and DEA agents patrol busy nightlife areas like The Wharf. Homeland Security police were spotted outside Nationals Park during a baseball game, while Secret Service officers monitored the Foggy Bottom neighborhood.
According to a White House official, Thursday night’s coordinated operation involved 20 federal law enforcement teams and more than 1,750 personnel, resulting in 33 arrests — 15 of them migrants without legal status, and others on charges ranging from murder to DUI.
Political and Legal Implications
The move underscores Trump’s willingness to test the limits of executive power, particularly over D.C., where federal authority is broader than in any U.S. state. His administration argues that public safety and immigration enforcement require stronger federal oversight, while critics see it as an assault on local governance and civil liberties.
The Home Rule Act allows the president to control D.C.’s police for up to 30 days without congressional approval, but Trump has hinted at seeking an extension. His actions mark the broadest assertion of federal control over a U.S. city’s police force in modern history.
Public Pushback
As the court hearing unfolded Friday, more than 100 protesters gathered outside police headquarters chanting “Protect home rule!” and waving signs reading “Resist!” Their demonstration reflected growing unease over the merger of local policing with federal immigration enforcement — and the long-term implications for the city’s governance.
For now, Chief Smith remains in her role, but under federal immigration orders that could reshape police-community relations in Washington for years to come.
