The political fight over policing in Washington, D.C. escalated this week after President Donald Trump invoked an emergency power to put the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control. The White House claimed the move was necessary to combat crime and homelessness, but city leaders quickly pushed back, noting that violent crime in the capital has actually dropped to historic lows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit challenging the order, calling it an illegal power grab that undermines the city\u2019s limited home rule. He asked a federal court to block the administration\u2019s actions and prevent what he described as a takeover of the police force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The case reached U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes, who signaled she was ready to halt the administration\u2019s plan unless changes were made. In response, the Justice Department scaled back the order, keeping Police Chief Pamela Smith in charge of day-to-day operations while naming Drug Enforcement Administration chief Terry Cole as the president\u2019s representative to request local police assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even with those revisions, the new directive still requires the Metropolitan Police to aid in federal immigration enforcement\u2014putting it in direct conflict with the city\u2019s sanctuary policies. The standoff has renewed concerns about the limits of D.C.\u2019s self-governance and sparked protests from residents worried about federal overreach and the potential impact on immigrant communities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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