D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith has authorized officers to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about suspected undocumented immigrants who are not in police custody, including during traffic stops. D.C. is not officially a sanctuary city, but it has laws that restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Consistent with these policies, Smith’s order prohibits police from investigating immigration status, making arrests based on immigration warrants, or cooperating with ICE detainer requests for individuals already in custody.
Meanwhile, President Trump has federalized the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) for 30 days, placing it under Attorney General Pam Bondi’s oversight. He’s seeking to extend this control and fund beautification efforts in the capital.
Federal officers are now patrolling DC, and a recent operation led to 45 arrests, 29 for immigration offenses and 16 for violent crimes. Additional charges include assault on a federal officer, child sex abuse material possession, and drug trafficking.
On Thursday, 8/14, Attorney General Bondi appointed DEA Administrator Terrence C. Cole as the department’s emergency police commissioner.
On Friday, 8/15, Attorney General Schwalb filed a lawsuit contesting former President Trump’s federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department. The legal challenge targets both Trump’s original takeover directive and the subsequent order issued Thursday by Attorney General Bondi, which appointed Cole as the department’s emergency police commissioner.
Following a hearing in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., the Justice Department agreed to remove Cole as D.C. emergency police chief and revise a directive that had eliminated local rules restricting cooperation between D.C. police and federal immigration authorities.
Contact A Deportation Defense Attorney Today
Although facing the possibility of detainment is scary, we highly advise immigrants to remain cooperative with law enforcement and to proactively contact deportation attorneys.
Reeves Immigration Law Group has served immigrants and their loved ones for over 40 years, obtaining success even in the most complex cases. Whether you are concerned about your and your family’s legal rights, or facing possible detainment or deportation, our team of immigration lawyers can provide expert advice on how to move forward.
Contact us today to connect with the best deportation lawyers. We promise to be by your side through it all because we believe in making a difference in the lives of others and our community.
