Congress targets D.C.'s sanctuary city status and other local laws
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House Republicans are stepping up their intervention into the District, passing bills this month to overturn D.C.'s sanctuary city policy and two other laws.
Why it matters: D.C. may get progressive laws rolled back at the hands of Congress, with the support of some Democrats.
State of play: The Senate will now consider whether to end D.C.'s policy banning local police from assisting with deportations.
- Currently, D.C. law prohibits local law enforcement from turning over suspects in custody to ICE, unless the feds possess a judicial order.
- But pending Senate approval, the city would have to comply with detainer requests from the Department of Homeland Security. An exception would be allowed in the case of a person who'd contacted police as a victim or witness of a crime.
- Eleven House Democrats voted to pass the measure Thursday.
Under President Trump's pressure to ramp up deportations in the capital region, Mayor Muriel Bowser proposed repealing the sanctuary city law last month.
- But it's unclear whether it has enough support on the D.C. Council. As always, Congress has final say over the District's laws.
The other side: Defending the city's law, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) said in a statement: "The District concluded that cooperation would make D.C. less safe for all residents by diverting police resources and discouraging immigrants from interacting with the police department and other government agencies."
Meanwhile, 56 Democrats joined Republicans to pass a measure out of the House last week that would overturn a D.C. law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections.
- Roughly 500 noncitizens registered to vote in the 2024 primary, per the Washington Post.
- A third bill in the Senate would restore allowing the D.C. police union to negotiate disciplinary issues in the collective bargaining process. That bill passed the House last week with 30 Democrats in support.
What we're watching: The House Oversight Committee launched an investigation last week into D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, accusing him of "politically motivated lawfare."
- The committee requested Schwalb's office release documents related to its 2024 lawsuit against three gun shops in Montgomery County, Maryland.
- Comer also wants communications and invoices between Schwalb's office and outside counsel, including Perkins Coie LLP, a firm that Trump had targeted.
- Schwalb's office declined to comment.