Tom Homan: Washington D.C. will not operate as sanctuary city under federal police control
08/18/2025 / By Laura Harris
- Border czar Tom Homan announced that Washington, D.C., will not operate as a sanctuary city while its police remain under federal control, pledging full cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to target undocumented immigrants deemed public safety threats.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi criticized sanctuary policies as dangerous and has vowed legal action against jurisdictions that block cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
- On Aug. 11, President Donald Trump declared a “crime emergency” in D.C. due to rising violence, prompting a temporary federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
- 800 National Guard troops were deployed to the city the next day to help curb violence and assist in a broader “beautification” initiative, with plans to remain for 30 days.
- Trump signaled plans for a new crime bill targeting D.C., and is seeking a long-term extension of federal control beyond the current 30-day legal limit, which would require congressional approval.
Border czar Tom Homan has announced that Washington, D.C. will not function as a sanctuary city as long as its police remain under federal control.
Washington is one of several U.S. cities with local policies that limit cooperation between police and federal immigration enforcement. These so-called “sanctuary city” policies are designed to encourage trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement. (Related: Trump threatens national emergency to extend federal control over D.C. police amid crime crackdown.)
“Sanctuary policies impede law enforcement and put American citizens at risk by design,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi earlier this August. Bondi has vowed to pursue legal action against jurisdictions that resist cooperation with federal immigration authorities, and to work with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to eliminate “harmful policies.”
In line with this, Homan clarified that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will target those considered public safety threats, despite acknowledging that not all undocumented immigrants in the city are criminals. Homan reinforced the administration’s intent to coordinate closely with ICE in the nation’s capital.
“I think D.C. under federal control is not going to be a sanctuary city,” Homan said in an interview with Fox News’ “The Story with Martha MacCallum” on Aug. 13. “We’re working with the police hand-in-hand, and when we encounter criminal illegal aliens, they’ll be turned over to ICE. I’m not saying every illegal alien in D.C. is a criminal, but many are. So these are the people we’re going to focus on. [The] illegal alien criminal safety threat in D.C. is not going to be protected. There’s no sanctuary for these people in the city of D.C.”
Trump federalizes D.C. due to “crime emergency”
The comments come just days after President Donald Trump announced the federalization of Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the deployment of National Guard troops to the city to combat rising violent crime.
On Aug. 11, Trump declared a “crime emergency” in Washington, D.C., citing escalating violence that “urgently endangers public servants, citizens and tourists, disrupts safe and secure transportation and the proper functioning of the Federal Government.” The declaration triggered a temporary 48-hour federal takeover of the MPD, with the option to extend federal control for up to 30 days with notification to Congress.
The following day, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the deployment of 800 National Guard troops to the city. The troops were sent not only to curb the spike in violent crime but also to support a broader “beautification” initiative. The National Guard is expected to remain in D.C. for the full 30-day period, pending congressional response and ongoing reassessment.
“We’re going to need a crime bill that we’re going to be putting in, and it’s going to pertain initially to D.C.,” Trump said. “It’s almost going to use it as a very positive example, and we’re going to be asking for extensions on that, long-term extensions, because you can’t have 30 days. Thirty days is, by the time you do it, we’re going to have this in good shape.”
Any effort to extend federal control beyond 30 days would require congressional legislation.
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Watch the video below about President Trump increasing federal law enforcement in D.C. amid the chaos there.
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More related stories:
Trump eyes Federal takeover of D.C. in push for ‘Law and Order’ amid rising chaos.
Washington, D.C. and other U.S. cities becoming war zones as crime skyrockets under Democrat control.
So-called ‘Sanctuary City’ declares public emergency over migrants being bused to DC.
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anarchy, big government, blue states, border security, cancel Democrats, chaos, Collapse, federalize, national security, police state, public order, public safety, sanctuary city, Tom Homan, Trump, Washington D.C.
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