Bondi Takes Control of D.C. Police, Rescinds Illegal Immigration Protections Amid Crime Crackdown

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday issued a sweeping directive that rescinds sanctuary-style protections for illegal immigrants in Washington, D.C., while placing the city’s police leadership under federal control, effectively sidelining Chief Pamela Smith. 

The move comes amid a surge in violent crime and follows President Donald Trump’s declaration of a crime emergency in the nation’s capital.

Bondi’s two-page order, titled “Restoring Safety and Security to the District of Columbia,” cancels three previous Metro Police Department directives, including a June 2024 general order, an October 2023 policy and a new executive order issued by Chief Smith earlier Thursday. 

Under the directive, Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terry Cole has been appointed “emergency police commissioner.”

This grants him full authority to issue general orders, executive directives and written instructions for all department personnel. 

Any actions by existing leadership now require Cole’s authorization.

The attorney general underscored the need for public safety, stating, “Residents of the District of Columbia, the thousands of Americans who commute into the District for work every day, and the millions of tourists from all over the world who visit our nation’s capital have a right to feel safe and to be free from the scourge of violent crime.” 

The order specifically addresses sanctuary policies that had limited Metro officers’ cooperation with federal immigration authorities, including restrictions on making arrests based solely on immigration status.

Chief Smith recently faced criticism after a press encounter in which she appeared uncertain about her authority when asked about the chain of command, underscoring organizational confusion within the department.

Her earlier executive order had allowed officers to assist federal authorities but prohibited arrests solely on federal warrants without an accompanying criminal charge.

Bondi’s intervention removes these limitations, providing law enforcement with broader powers to act against illegal immigrants engaged in criminal activity.

Since the federal takeover began, authorities have intensified operations across the city. 

On Wednesday night alone, 45 arrests were made, 29 involving illegal immigrants, according to Fox News. 

Officials overseeing the crackdown noted that the changes allow officers to respond more efficiently to violent crime while improving coordination between federal and local enforcement.

Bondi’s directive represents a major federal role in D.C.’s policing and significantly curtails Chief Smith’s authority, illustrating the tension between local sanctuary policies and national law enforcement objectives. 

Analysts suggest that Cole’s oversight should ensure consistency in law enforcement, while critics warn that the action represents an unprecedented expansion of federal control over municipal operations.

The operational implications are immediate: officers and department leadership must now follow directives approved by Cole, reshaping daily procedures and internal chains of command. 

Metro Police will face a period of adaptation under federal oversight, with the goal of reducing violent crime and restoring public confidence.

This intervention highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing local autonomy with federal enforcement priorities, particularly when violent crime intersects with immigration concerns. 

By centralizing authority under Bondi’s directive, officials aim to create accountability and address pressing safety issues that prompted the emergency declaration.

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