The chief of police in Washington, D.C., will allow the Metropolitan Police Department to work with federal immigration authorities to arrest illegal immigrants, an unprecedented move that follows President Donald Trump’s crackdown on crime in the city.
MPD Chief Pamela Smith issued an executive order Thursday morning saying officers may cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.
“Effective immediately, members may assist federal immigration enforcement agencies with the following: sharing information about persons not in MPD custody (e.g. during traffic stops), providing transportation for federal immigration agency employees and detained subjects,” the order stated.
It means police will be able to transport illegal immigrants in custody to federal facilities. States such as Florida have done this to increase the number of people who can be transferred from local custody to ICE for deportation proceedings.
Both ICE and CBP have confirmed that agents and officers from their ranks were among those making traffic stops in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening.
“ICE Homeland Security Investigations special agents are on the ground in Washington, D.C., with our partners, as promised,” ICE wrote in a post to X Thursday morning. “Together, we’ll bring the rule of law back to our nation’s treasured capital city.”
ICE Homeland Security Investigations special agents are on the ground in Washington, D.C., with our partners, as promised.
Together, we’ll bring the rule of law back to our nation’s treasured capital city. pic.twitter.com/NckXepmZg4
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) August 14, 2025
The video posted by ICE shows its law enforcement personnel encountering homeless people in Washington, as well as speaking with drivers of cars that have been pulled over. CBP had 30 employees in the district as of Thursday.
CBP Senior Advisor Ron Vitiello confirmed on Thursday morning that CBP’s Border Patrol agents, Air and Marine Operations agents, Office of Field Operations officers, and technical support were also in the nation’s capital assisting local police as part of the Trump administration’s temporary federalization of the Metropolitan Police Department.
“We’re happy to be participating,” Vitiello told Newsmax’s National Report.
Making the streets safe: CBP is on the ground in D.C. enforcing the law. We will take D.C. back from the criminals. pic.twitter.com/w9KP9PsqXt
— CBP (@CBP) August 14, 2025
The action stirred a fiery response from some members of the community who surrounded local and federal police in the streets downtown Wednesday evening and hurled insults at law enforcement as they conducted traffic stops at a checkpoint.
Trump federalized the MPD on Monday for a 30-day period and has brought in support from federal agencies, including the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, CBP, and U.S. Park Police.
A MAN WENT TO PRISON FOR ASSAULTING ME. DC POLICE CRIME STATS SHOW HE WAS NEVER ARRESTED
Roughly 700 federal law enforcement personnel, 30 National Guard soldiers, and 750 MPD personnel have been mobilized to assist in the White House effort.
As of Wednesday, police had arrested more than 100 people in Washington since Aug. 7.