Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday issued a formal order rescinding Washington, D.C.’s sanctuary city protections for illegal immigrants and transferring authority over the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) from Chief Pamela Smith to Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terry Cole, as reported by Fox News.
Reporter: “Do you know what the chain of command is now?”
Pamela Smith, D.C. Police Chief: “What does that mean?”
This is who is in charge of the police in D.C… pic.twitter.com/wGYPj7iNrg
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 12, 2025
Bondi’s two-page directive, titled “Restoring Safety and Security to the District of Columbia,” nullifies any MPD policy that limits how officers handle incidents involving illegal immigrants. The order explicitly removes restrictions on cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Under the order, Cole has been named “emergency police commissioner” with all powers and duties vested in the position. He is authorized to issue general orders, executive orders, and written directives for the entire department.
Any directives from existing MPD leadership now require his approval.
Bondi also rescinded three recent MPD orders relating to immigration enforcement, including an executive order issued by Chief Smith earlier the same day.
Smith’s directive permitted limited assistance to federal immigration agencies, such as providing transportation for detained subjects and sharing information in certain cases, but prohibited inquiries into immigration status for the sole purpose of determining lawful presence.
It also barred arrests based solely on federal immigration warrants or detainers without an additional criminal charge.
Bondi overturned that policy within hours, also nullifying a June 2024 general order that limited immigration status inquiries and an October 2023 general order that prevented arrests solely on federal immigration warrants.
“To the extent that provisions in this order conflict with any existing MPD directives, those directives are hereby rescinded,” Bondi stated.
The move follows President Donald Trump’s executive order on Monday declaring a crime emergency in Washington, D.C., and announcing a federal takeover of the city’s police department.
🚨 JUST IN – AG PAM BONDI: “Let me be crystal clear: crime in D.C. is ending and ending TODAY.”
“We are going to use every power we have to fight criminals here.“
Bondi now controls Metro Police.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 11, 2025
Federal law enforcement agencies and the National Guard have since been deployed throughout the capital.
On Wednesday night, joint operations involving multiple agencies resulted in 45 arrests, including 29 individuals identified as illegal immigrants, as part of an ongoing federal crime crackdown.
“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,” Bondi said in her order.
Cole is expected to assume immediate operational control over MPD while the federal public safety operation continues.
