Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, Aug 16: The District of Columbia on Friday filed a lawsuit to block President Donald Trump’s unprecedented takeover of its police department, hours after the administration appointed a federal official as the new emergency head of law enforcement.
Washington Police Chief Pamela Smith warned in court filings that the move threatens law and order by disrupting the department’s command structure. “In my nearly three decades in law enforcement, I have never seen a single government action that would cause a greater threat to law and order than this dangerous directive,” she stated.
The legal dispute highlights tensions in the predominantly Democratic city, where Trump’s intervention represents one of the most sweeping assertions of federal authority over a local government in modern U.S. history. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes noted that while the president may request cooperation, the law likely does not allow him to fully control the city police.
The Trump administration, through attorney Yaakov Roth, argued that the president has broad authority to direct the city police for federal purposes, citing a recent immigration order as justification. The federal takeover followed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s directive placing DEA chief Terry Cole in charge of Washington police operations.
District Attorney General Brian Schwalb contended that the move is illegal, limited under the law, and threatens operational stability. Mayor Muriel Bowser also opposed the intervention, stating there is no statute giving a federal official authority over D.C. personnel.
Meanwhile, immigrant advocacy groups are advising caution. Anusce Sanai of Ayuda said, “Even with the most anti-immigrant administration, we would always tell our clients to call the police. But now we have to be very careful in what we advise.” Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid reported increased ICE activity and calls to its hotline regarding federal enforcement.
The federal operation has deployed over 1,750 personnel across the city, including National Guard troops, DEA agents, and Secret Service officers. At least 33 arrests were reported, including 15 migrants without permanent legal status, as well as individuals wanted on serious criminal charges. Federal presence was visible at major landmarks, the Nationals Park baseball game, and nightlife areas like The Wharf.
Protests erupted outside police headquarters, with over 100 demonstrators chanting “Protect home rule!” and urging resistance to the federal takeover. The legal battle and heightened federal activity underscore a growing crisis over governance, law enforcement, and daily life in the nation’s capital.