D.C. Police to Notify ICE on Traffic Stops as Federal Enforcement Escalates
D.C. Police to Notify ICE on Traffic Stops as Federal Enforcement Escalates
Washington D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has enacted a new executive order, effective Thursday, allowing officers to notify federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents about undocumented immigrants encountered during traffic stops. This marks a significant shift from previous MPD policy, enabling the reporting of individuals not yet detained or charged with a crime to ICE for potential arrest and deportation.
The move comes amidst a broader federal crackdown initiated by President Donald Trump, who on Monday federalized the D.C. police department and deployed 800 National Guard troops to the district, citing a need to address crime despite historically low rates. Attorney General Pam Bondi declared Monday, “Crime in D.C. is ending and ending today.”
President Trump lauded the MPD’s new directive on Thursday, stating it was a “great step” that could be replicated nationwide to “stop crime.” This policy change also aligns with the administration’s broader second-term priority of mass deportation for undocumented immigrants, a key campaign promise.
Federal law enforcement, including ICE officers, have been mobilized to patrol alongside MPD officers. On Tuesday, a “targeted enforcement operation” in a Home Depot parking lot resulted in immigrant arrests. Mayor Muriel Bowser has previously maintained that D.C. is not a sanctuary city due to past cooperation with ICE, despite the city having several pro-immigration policies, including non-citizen voting rights and limits on federal immigration agency cooperation.
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