Washington DC, The nation’s capital has officially become the latest safe haven for illegal immigrants.
The District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray on Wednesday signed an executive order instructing police officers not to question people about their immigration status — even people who are arrested on other matters — unless immigration status is directly related to a criminal investigation.
“This executive order ensures public safety by ensuring that our police resources are deployed wisely and our immigrant communities feel safe cooperating with those who are sworn to protect them,” Gray said in a statement.
“The district is home to thousands of immigrants,” he added. “If they are afraid to cooperate with authorities on criminal investigations because they fear it might endanger their presence in the United States or the presence of a loved one, then it endangers their public safety and that of our entire city.”
Although district officials say the order only confirms a longstanding policy, critics still blasted the move.
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Washington, D.C. has a long-standing policy of not involving local law enforcement in federal immigration enforcement. This approach aims to build trust between immigrant communities and police, encouraging cooperation in reporting crimes without fear of deportation.
In 2011, then-Mayor Vincent Gray signed an executive order directing D.C. police and other public safety agencies not to inquire about individuals’ immigration status unless it directly pertains to a criminal investigation.
The order also prohibited detaining individuals solely based on immigration status or civil violations. While the District continues to comply with the federal Secure Communities program, which shares fingerprints with the FBI, it does not proactively enforce civil immigration laws .
Mayor Muriel Bowser has reaffirmed this stance, emphasizing that the Metropolitan Police Department’s role is to enforce D.C. laws, not federal immigration laws.
This policy aligns with the city’s designation as a sanctuary city, where local authorities limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
DC Mayor Orders Police Not to Check Immigration Statuses
