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Mayor Muriel Bowser is seeking to repeal Washington, D.C.’s sanctuary city law, a significant policy reversal that would allow local police to assist federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Buried in her proposed fiscal 2026 budget is a provision that would eliminate restrictions preventing D.C. law enforcement from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including bans on inquiring about a person’s immigration status, detaining individuals for ICE, or allowing federal interviews without a judicial order. The change was first reported by WAMU.
The proposal marks a shift from the city’s long-standing policy of limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities and comes amid intensifying deportation efforts by the Trump administration.
Last week, Trump officials reportedly ordered immigration agents to triple the pace of daily arrests to 3,000, part of a broader crackdown that has already impacted the D.C. area. Earlier this month, ICE agents arrested 189 individuals in the District and conducted compliance checks at local restaurants, demanding to see employment authorization documentation.
Bowser had previously supported sanctuary policies, but in March, her administration removed a city webpage that labeled D.C. a “sanctuary city.” The move, and the latest budget proposal, suggest a deliberate shift in tone amid growing federal pressure.
The D.C. Council, which holds the authority to amend the budget, may challenge Bowser’s repeal effort. Several progressive members have strongly supported the city’s sanctuary status and are likely to resist any rollback.
The proposal comes as the Trump administration seeks greater local-federal collaboration in immigration enforcement, making the nation’s capital a focal point in the broader political battle over sanctuary jurisdictions.
During President Trump’s second term, his administration has significantly increased efforts to deport undocumented immigrants and crack down on sanctuary cities across the country.
In February, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a directive aimed at withholding federal funds from jurisdictions that refuse to comply with federal immigration laws. The Department of Justice has also filed lawsuits against states such as Illinois and New York, claiming that their sanctuary policies obstruct federal immigration enforcement.
