Trump team’s new DC police chief prompts local leaders to push back | Trump administration

Washington officials are opposing U.S. Attorney General’s order Pam Bondi Later Thursday, the federal government imposed a new police chief on the national capital.

this Trump administration Appointed as Director of Drug Enforcement (DEA) and regarded as the “emergency police commissioner” in Washington, D.C., the move is Upgrade federal control The city, but was immediately challenged by local leaders.

The federal National Guard unit is order Entering the city four days ago Donald Trump Amid the anger of opponents, a crisis of crime and homelessness was declared there.

Bondi puts DEA chief Terry Cole in charge of the capital Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and he said he will assume “the powers and responsibilities that give the D.C. Police Chief.”

Bondy said that before any order was issued, police officers “must obtain the approval of Commissioner Cole.” It is unclear where the move brought MPD Police Chief Pamela Smith to work at the city’s mayor Muriel Bowser.

Ball hit back quickly, saying on social media Thursday night postal: “Refers to the order of the U.S. Attorney General, there is no regulation that conveys personnel power in the region to federal officials.”

Bowser includes a letter from District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb to Smith saying Bundy’s order was “illegal” and that Smith “has no legal obligation to follow it.”

“Members of the MPD must continue to obey your orders, not the orders of any officers not appointed by the mayor,” Schwab wrote in a letter to Smith.

Bondy’s instructions came a few hours later guide MPD officials share information about undetained persons, such as those involved in traffic stops or checkpoints, with federal agencies including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) agencies.

But, as a so-called Sanctuary citylocal laws will still prevent DC police from providing federal immigration agencies with personal information about undocumented persons under MPD custody, including their release details, locations or photos, and being unable to arrest people based on their immigration status, or have immigration officials question under police custody.

But the Justice Department said Bundy disagreed with the police chief’s order because it allowed the continued implementation of the “asylum policy”, and Bundy said she was revoking Smith’s order.

The DC power struggle is the latest move by the U.S. president and his administration to test federal authorities’ restrictions, relying on obscure regulations and subjective announcements of the crisis to strengthen hard-line approaches to crime and immigration.

Bondy overnight Send letters against Sampt City She warned the mayors of 32 cities and a handful of counties in the United States that she intends to prosecute political leaders who do not fully support immigration enforcement.

City leaders led by Democrats questioned the characteristics of the government that their cities were lawless, including unpopular people with drug abuse and mental health problems, resulting in an increase in homelessness and tent camps.

They say Washington is struggling with violence and visible homelessness, with the city’s homicide rate lower than that in several other major cities, and the capital is not in the public safety breaks portrayed by the government.

Trump earlier praised Smith’s instructions for effectively moving administration to city law enforcement and his efforts to curb immigration nationwide.

“That’s a very positive thing. I heard it just happened,” Trump said of Smith’s order. “It’s a great step. If they do, it’s a great step.”

Bowser, walking a rope between the Republican White House and her major democratic city constituency, did not make a family commitment Thursday at Martha’s Vineyard to take children from summer camp, but will return Friday to Friday.

The Associated Press contributed the report