Committee calls for rescinding mayoral order after residents report federal immigration enforcement 'terrorizing' communities

The Committee on Public Works and Operations, chaired by Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, unanimously approved a report on Jan. 20 that summarized resident testimony alleging District agency involvement with federal immigration enforcement and recommended immediate policy changes.

"The most significant finding based on the testimony and other information in this report is that many residents have lost trust in MPD," Nadeau said as she introduced the report. The committee said more than 50 people provided testimony in person or in writing about incidents since January 2025 involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies.

Witnesses described armed, masked and unidentifiable agents who lacked visible badges and who, according to the report, questioned, arrested and transported residents in unmarked vehicles. "They're just terrorizing our citizens," Chairman Phil Mendelson said during committee remarks, characterizing testimony he heard and comparing local incidents to recent events in other jurisdictions.

The committee's recommendations include asking the mayor to rescind Mayor's Order 2025-090 (referred to in the report as the Safe and Beautiful Emergency Operations Center order), directing the interim MPD chief to sunset an order authorizing MPD officers to share information about people not in custody and to transport detainees for federal immigration officers, and urging the Council to hold a hearing on B26-549, the Safe Community Places and Policing Amendment Act of 2025. The report also recommends measures to require federal officers operating in the District to display identification and to prohibit masks or face coverings that prevent identification while performing law-enforcement functions locally.

Councilmember Louis George, who said he had been joining a march calling for ICE to leave the city, urged the committee to move his bill B26-549 through the Council and said the report reflected "the voices of district residents and the urgent need for accountability, transparency, and adherence to the law." Councilmember Wendell Felder added a short statement in support of the report, saying, "Go home ICE."

The committee also recommended continued oversight by the Office of Human Rights to collect data and monitor related human-rights issues. Nadeau moved to approve the committee report with leave for staff to make technical and conforming changes; the committee voted "aye," and the chair announced the vote was unanimous in favor.

Next steps identified in committee discussion include scheduling oversight hearings and moving the proposed ordinance B26-549 through Council processes for consideration.