Pam Bondi stands firm on immigration enforcement in DC

Washington, D.C., is now ground zero in a fierce clash over federal authority as Attorney General Pam Bondi pushes hard against the city’s sanctuary stance.

In a bold move, Bondi issued a directive on Friday evening, mandating that the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) work hand-in-hand with federal immigration authorities, directly challenging D.C.’s resistance to the Trump administration’s control over the city, as the Daily Caller reports.

This saga kicked off earlier in the week with a joint operation on Wednesday between MPD and federal forces, resulting in 45 arrests, including 29 unauthorized migrants.

Bondi’s orders spark backlash

The very next day, on Thursday, Bondi upped the ante by issuing an initial order that briefly placed a Drug Enforcement Administration official in charge of MPD and scrapped local rules limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb quickly fired back that evening with a letter to MPD Chief Pamela Smith, urging defiance. “It is my opinion that the Bondi order is unlawful, and that you are not legally obligated to follow it,” Schwalb wrote. Well, opinions are like umbrellas in a storm — nice to have, but they don’t stop the rain of federal authority.

By Friday, Bondi doubled down with a revised directive, dropping the direct leadership change but demanding broad MPD participation in immigration enforcement, a clear signal that the administration isn’t playing games.

Federal takeover meets local resistance

Chad Gilmartin, a Department of Justice spokesperson, didn’t mince words, stating, “We are NOT backing down.” That’s the kind of resolve that cuts through the fog of bureaucratic pushback, though some might call it overreach.

Gilmartin also noted, “Today’s order is even STRONGER than yesterday’s,” emphasizing the shift to full cooperation with federal immigration authorities. If D.C. thought they could wait out the storm, they’ve got another thing coming—turns out, persistence pays.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has rolled out hundreds of National Guard members and federal law enforcement to D.C. in recent days, citing the need to tackle crime rates across the nation.

DC leaders dig in their heels

Local leaders aren’t taking this lying down, with Mayor Muriel Bowser and Schwalb standing firm against what they see as a federal overstep into D.C.’s affairs.

Schwalb even escalated the fight on Friday by filing a lawsuit claiming the Trump administration’s actions threaten D.C.’s home rule status. That’s a bold play, but challenging federal directives in court might be more symbolic than successful.

In another jab at Bondi’s order, Schwalb told Chief Smith, “Having been duly appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council, you are the lawfully appointed Chief of Police of the District of Columbia.” It’s a nice reminder of local loyalty, but federal law tends to carry a heavier stick.

Bondi fires back

Bondi herself responded to the resistance with a pointed statement: “Unfortunately, the DC Attorney General continues to oppose our efforts to improve public safety in Washington, DC.” She’s not wrong to highlight the disconnect — when crime stats are glaring, shouldn’t safety trump political posturing?

Bondi also took a swipe at Schwalb’s track record, noting his alleged leniency on juvenile offenders as a reason for D.C.’s struggles. It’s a sharp critique, though one wonders if pointing fingers solves more than it stings.

As this battle unfolds, the tension between federal mandates and local autonomy couldn’t be starker, with D.C.’s sanctuary policies caught in the crosshairs of a determined administration.