The attorney general of Washington, D.C., is arguing that city leaders are “not legally obligated” to adhere to an executive order ending sanctuary policies.
Attorney General Pam Bondi issued an executive order on Thursday dismantling policies within the District of Columbia that protect illegal migrants and cementing the federal government’s hold on local law enforcement. However, Democratic D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb submitted a letter later that evening that called on Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief of Police Pamela Smith to ignore the order.
“It is my opinion that the Bondi order is unlawful, and that you are not legally obligated to follow it,” Shwalb wrote to Smith, a letter that was shared on social media by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.
“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,” Shwalb continued. “Therefore, members of MPD must continue to follow your orders and not the orders of any official not appointed by the Mayor.”
The Department of Justice and the MPD did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation about Schwalb’s determination.
Earlier on Thursday, Smith released a memo that paved the way for more cooperation between local law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The memo allowed the MPD to notify ICE agents of individuals who are not in law enforcement custody, share information about individuals not in MPD custody and even provide transportation for federal immigration employees and detained migrants.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told the DCNF that the memo was “an important first step” for public safety and added that DHS looked forward to “partnering more closely” with their D.C. counterparts. Border Czar Tom Homan said the memo was “way past due” in a separate statement to the DCNF.
However, Smith’s directive was not yet a full embrace of immigration enforcement, noting that MPD members were still prohibited from making database inquiries solely for immigration status purposes and continued restrictions around arresting individuals solely on immigration warrants or detainers.
Hours later, Bondi issued an order that placed Drug Enforcement Administrator chief Terrence C. Cole in charge of the MPD and rescinded several MPD orders that restricted ICE cooperation, including Smith’s Thursday memo — prompting the response from Schwalb.
The back-and-forth between the Trump administration and D.C. leaders comes as President Donald Trump continues a federal takeover of the city, a move he argues is needed as the nation’s capital continues to be plagued by rampant crime. Hundreds of National Guard members and other federal law enforcement officials have been deployed to the city to restore order.
The federal takeover has appeared to yield success, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. In a joint operation conducted on Wednesday night, MPD and federal law enforcement officials made 45 arrests, which included 29 illegal migrants.
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