Big Changes for Immigration Policies in the Nation's Capital
In a stunning move, the Attorney General has abandoned local rules that greatly restricted the collaboration between local police in Washington, D.C., and federal immigration officials. This decision represents a significant shift away from the 'sanctuary' practices that the city was known for.
This change permits the city's police department to engage fully with federal immigration enforcement. This is a direct result of the President's growing influence over the city, which he justifies as a response to the city's crime and disorder issues. However, this decision has been met with resistance from city officials who challenge the legality of the Attorney General's decision, asserting they are not obligated to comply.
A Focus on Crime and Disorder
The President has repeatedly expressed concerns about crime and homelessness, initiating a widespread campaign against crime in the city. He has called upon the National Guard and numerous federal agency officers to patrol parts of the city. This move is underpinned by a recent executive order that effectively brought the local police department under federal control for a duration of 30 days.
As part of her role overseeing federal requests for the police department, the Attorney General has appointed the current head of the DEA as the city's emergency police chief. She used the President's emergency declaration as grounds to reverse several local police policies.
According to the Attorney General, "Washington, D.C. will no longer serve as a sanctuary city, actively protecting criminal aliens."
Rescinding Previous Guidelines
The Attorney General overturned a set of guidelines that were issued earlier by the city's police chief. These guidelines permitted local police to transport immigration officers and detainees, and to share immigration information during traffic stops, while still largely restricting local involvement in federal immigration enforcement.
She also dismissed a rule that prevented local police officers from checking databases to ascertain someone's immigration status unless there was a criminal warrant involved.
The Attorney General did away with regulations that prevented local police from arresting individuals based solely on administrative immigration warrants issued by immigration officials instead of judges, and from aiding federal agents during such arrests. The overturned policy required officers to have a criminal connection before making an arrest, forbidding arrests purely based on suspected violations of civil immigration law.
She also reversed a local policy that previously stopped local police from handing over noncitizen detainees to immigration officials based on 'detainer' requests issued by the federal agency, unless there was a criminal warrant signed by a judge.
City Officials Push Back
In a swift response, the city's Mayor shared a letter written by the city's Attorney General, who argued that the Attorney General's directives were not backed by federal law.
He stated, "In my view, this order is unlawful, and you are not legally required to follow it." The letter, addressed to the city's police chief, further specified that capital police officers "must" continue to obey orders from the city's police chief "and not the order of any official not appointed by the Mayor."
As part of its overall crackdown on illegal immigration, the current administration has attempted to penalize 'sanctuary' cities and states that refuse to fully cooperate with federal immigration officers. These places have been threatened with lawsuits and cuts in federal funding.