Original Date Announced

Attorney General Pamela Bondi issued an order pursuant to EO 14333 and § 740(a) of the DC Home Rule Act of 1973, purporting to 1) instate Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Terrence Cole as the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) "Emergency Police Commissioner for the duration of the emergency declared by the President," who "shall assume all of the powers and duties vested in the District of Columbia Chief of Police," 2) rescind and/or suspend DC laws limiting MPD cooperation with immigration enforcement, 3) require MPD to enforce "to the maximum extent permissible by law" DC's ordinance pertaining to unlawful occupancy of public spaces.

Trump 2.0 [ID #1919]

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.08.14 MPD EO-25-005 - Immigration Enforcement EO

D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith issued an order allowing police officers to aid federal immigration-enforcement by sharing information about people not in custody, including those encountered at traffic stops, and by transporting federal immigration-agency employees and their detainees. The order departs from previous policy, which stated that D.C. police officers “shall not assist ICE with arrest or transport of individuals solely based on ICE warrants or detainers.” The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) characterized the order as a "clarification" that does not affect the D.C. law prohibiting police from providing information about people in D.C. custody to DHS or holding people at the D.C. jail past their release date at DHS's request. The order also states that D.C. police are still forbidden to search databases solely for immigration status and must not arrest people solely for immigration reasons.

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.08.15 AG Order No. 6372-2025 - Restoring Safety and Security to the District of Columbia

Attorney General Bondi issued a new directive rescinding AG Order No. 6370-2025, which included a provision giving DEA Administrator Terry Cole full control of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The new order specifies certain "services" the mayor must provide, with Cole acting solely as the Attorney General's designee to oversee those limited duties. The new order still requires MPD to assist in enforcing federal immigration law, locating undocumented immigrants, sharing data, and upholding D.C. laws on public-space occupancy.

AG Bondi issued Order No. 6372-2025 after U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes indicated during an August 14, 2025, hearing that she would grant D.C.'s request for a temporary restraining order if DOJ did not rewrite the Order to delete the portion removing D.C.'s Chief of Police.

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.08.15 Complaint - District of Columbia v. Trump

The District of Columbia filed a lawsuit challenging the federal government's attempt to take over the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The complaint specifically addresses Executive Order 14333, “Declaring a Crime Emergency in the District of Columbia,” and the order issued by Attorney General Bondi on August 14, 2025, rescinding certain MPD policies and placing it under the DEA Administrator's command.

The lawsuit alleges that the federal government's actions exceed its authority under Section 740 of the Home Rule Act of 1973, as well as the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution. The complaint requests a declaration that the federal defendants' actions are unconstitutional and an injunction barring those actions, including of Defendants "issuing any future orders or directives or taking any other action that attempts to place MPD under the control of anyone other than the Mayor and the Chief of Police, otherwise assert operational control over MPD, or otherwise attempt to direct local law enforcement activities." District of Columbia v. Trump, No. 1:25-cv-02678 (D.D.C.).

**Link to case here. Our litigation entries generally report only the initial complaint and any major substantive filings or decisions. For additional information, CourtListener provides access to PACER and all available pleadings. Other sites that track litigation in more detail or organize cases by topic include Civil Rights Clearinghouse, Justice Action Center, National Immigration Litigation Alliance, and Just Security**

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.08.21 Reported: ICE is joining D.C. police patrols. Moped drivers are getting detained. - The Washington Post

The Washington Post reports that a growing number of delivery drivers, mostly from Central and South America, are being detained and placed in immigration custody during traffic stops in D.C. Under a new practice, ICE officers accompany D.C. police for moped stops to check immigration status.

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.08.22 Reported: ICE director says agents won't be at D.C. schools on the first day — but may be going forward - NBC News

NBC News reports that acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said ICE officers won't be present at D.C. schools when classes resume, but didn't rule out future visits. He noted ICE may need to enter schools in special cases, such as conducting welfare checks on children previously identified as unaccompanied at the border.

Subsequent Trump and Court Action

2025.09.02 DC Mayor's Order 2025-090 - Creation of the Safe and Beautiful Emergency Operations Center

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser issued an order that requiring cooperation between MPD and federal immigration enforcement. The order establishes the Safe and Beautiful Emergency Operations Center ("SBEOC"), which will "coordinate centralized communications; formulate post-emergency planning; formulate post-emergency operations; and ensure coordination with federal law enforcement to the maximum extent allowable by law within the district."

The order states that the SBEOC will "continue to advance requests to federal partners that they adhere to effective community policing practices to maintain community confidence in law enforcement, such as by not wearing masks, clearly identifying their agency, and providing identification during arrests and encounters with the public."