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Emigration and immigration

Trump's Executive Order Federalizing D.C. Police a Pivotal Chance for Immigration Enforcement, Says FAIR

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) has released a report examining the implications of President Donald Trump's executive order federalizing the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) of Washington D.C. The report argues that this move provides a chance for D.C. police and prosecutors to comply with federal immigration mandates, override the District's sanctuary policies, and prioritize the deportation of criminal illegal aliens. According to Dale Wilcox, FAIR's executive director and general counsel, the report "exposes how these policies violate federal supremacy and outlines clear steps for MPD and prosecutors to align with national priorities."

Key Takeaways:

  • D.C.'s sanctuary policies are unlawful, as they conflict with the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and are preempted under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution.
  • The report recommends that MPD implement routine immigration status checks during arrests, work with other D.C. agencies to honor ICE detainers, and report non-citizen arrestees to ICE.
  • Prosecutors must reject "immigration neutral" practices and adopt policies that prohibit immigration-based leniency, pursue maximum charges to trigger federal jurisdiction, coordinate with ICE, and track prosecution outcomes for alien defendants.
  • FAIR will continue to monitor developments in the District and will expand its investigation where appropriate, including through possible public records requests to hold government stakeholders accountable.

Statistics:

  • 74% of D.C.'s crimes are committed by non-U.S. citizens, according to a 2024 study by FAIR.
  • The report notes that between 2015 and 2019, ICE arrested 1,046 alien fugitives in the D.C. area, with 82% of them having previously been released from U.S. custody.
  • FAIR estimates that in 2022, there were over 100,000 aliens who were "at large" in the D.C. area, meaning they had failed to comply with the terms of their removal orders.

Sources:

  • Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)
  • Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
  • D.C. Home Rule Act
  • CNN, "74% of D.C. crimes committed by non-U.S. citizens, new study finds" (2024)
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection, "Alien Fugitives Arrested in the Washington D.C. Area" (2020)

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