Trump is laying down the law.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a decisive move to restore law and order, President Donald Trump’s Justice Department has dismantled Washington, D.C.’s sanctuary city protections and installed an “emergency police commissioner” to take control of the city’s crime-plagued police force.
Attorney General Pam Bondi issued the sweeping two-page directive Thursday, declaring that the capital’s soft-on-crime approach to illegal immigration had “undermined public safety for far too long.”
Sanctuary City Protections Wiped Out
The order — titled “Restoring Safety and Security to the District of Columbia” — rescinds all policies that limited Metropolitan Police officers from fully cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
Bondi also stripped Metro Police Chief Pamela Smith of her authority, naming Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terry Cole as the department’s “emergency police commissioner.” Cole now holds full command, with the power to issue orders and override department leadership.
Controversial Pro-Illegal Immigration Orders Overturned
Bondi’s crackdown nullified three separate directives issued in the past two years that had weakened immigration enforcement in D.C. This included an order signed by Chief Smith just hours before Bondi’s action, which prohibited officers from checking immigration databases or arresting individuals solely on federal immigration warrants.
Also rescinded:
- A June 2024 order limiting immigration status inquiries.
- An October 2023 order blocking arrests solely for federal immigration warrants.
Bondi made it clear: “Any MPD directive that conflicts with this order is hereby rescinded.”
Federal Takeover Already Producing Results
The move comes days after President Trump declared a “crime emergency” in Washington and ordered a federal takeover of the police department. Since then, federal agents and National Guard troops have flooded the streets.
Just Wednesday night, a joint law enforcement sweep led to 45 arrests — 29 involving illegal immigrants — in an aggressive push to take back the streets from violent criminals.
Trump’s Law-and-Order Agenda in Action
“Residents of the District of Columbia, the thousands of Americans who commute here daily, and the millions of visitors from around the world have a right to feel safe and free from violent crime,” Bondi said.
For years, D.C.’s leadership has embraced sanctuary city policies, limiting police from working with ICE and other federal agencies. The Trump administration’s latest move marks a major shift back toward strong enforcement, accountability, and public safety.
