Washington, D.C.’s streets just got a wake-up call. Attorney General Pam Bondi dropped a two-page order Thursday, titled “Restoring Safety and Security to the District of Columbia,” that yanks sanctuary city protections and sidelines Metro Police Chief Pamela Smith, as Fox News reports. It’s a bold move to wrestle control from progressive policies and restore order.
President Donald Trump’s Monday executive order sparked this shake-up, declaring a crime emergency and launching a federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department. Bondi’s order rescinds illegal immigration protections and appoints Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terry Cole as the emergency police commissioner. The capital’s soft-on-crime days are numbered.
Bondi’s directive dismantles sanctuary city policies that shielded unauthorized migrants. It explicitly voids three prior Metro police orders, including one from Smith issued just hours earlier on Thursday. Progressive coddling of lawbreakers is getting the boot.
Terry Cole now holds the reins of the Metropolitan Police Department. Bondi’s order grants him full authority to issue directives, while existing leadership needs his nod to act. This is a clear signal: federal oversight means business.
Smith’s now-rescinded order tried to limit police cooperation with federal immigration authorities. She allowed sharing info on non-custodial persons but banned inquiries solely about immigration status. Bondi’s swift reversal shows zero tolerance for such foot-dragging.
“Members shall not arrest individuals based solely on federal immigration warrants,” Smith had declared. Her attempt to tie officers’ hands was overruled in hours. Bondi’s no-nonsense approach prioritizes law over loopholes.
Bondi also suspended a June 2024 order restricting immigration status inquiries. Another October 2023 order barring arrests based solely on federal immigration warrants got the axe. These reversals aim to untangle police from progressive red tape.
“Residents of the District of Columbia… have a right to feel safe,” Bondi stated. Her words underscore a commitment to citizens over ideological agendas. Safety, not sanctuary, is the new priority.
Trump’s crime emergency declaration set the stage for this crackdown. Federal law enforcement and the National Guard have flooded D.C.’s streets since Monday. The message is clear: chaos won’t be tolerated in the nation’s capital.
Wednesday night alone saw 45 arrests in a sweeping operation. Of those, 29 were unauthorized migrants, highlighting the overlap between crime and lax immigration enforcement. Bondi’s order ensures police can now act without sanctuary city handcuffs.
Smith’s earlier directive allowed limited cooperation, like transporting federal immigration detainees. Yet, she prohibited database checks solely for immigration status. Such half-measures couldn’t survive Bondi’s overhaul.
“To the extent that provisions in this order conflict with any existing MPD directives, those directives are hereby rescinded,” Bondi declared. Her legal hammer leaves no room for woke wiggle room. Clarity and control are back in charge.
Cole’s new powers include issuing general orders and executive directives. Department leaders must now get his approval before making moves. This top-down approach aims to streamline and strengthen law enforcement.
The capital has long been a magnet for progressive experiments. Sanctuary policies shielded lawbreakers while crime surged, frustrating residents and visitors alike. Bondi’s order flips the script, prioritizing safety over ideology.
D.C.’s commuters and tourists deserve better than dodging crime on their way to work or the Lincoln Memorial. With federal forces now patrolling and Cole at the helm, the city’s getting a much-needed reset. Washington might just feel like the nation’s capital again.
