Washington, DC’s government has quietly removed a webpage that once promoted the city as a sanctuary for illegal immigrants, signaling a shift in how Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration is handling immigration issues. This move marks a dramatic departure from the stance she took in 2016 when she pledged to shield illegal immigrants from federal enforcement.
The now-removed page detailed DC’s commitment to “doubling down” on being a sanctuary city, even allocating taxpayer funds to legal defense for those facing deportation. At the time, Bowser positioned DC as a stronghold against then-President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, standing alongside leftist cities like Chicago and Los Angeles in defying federal law.
Bowser’s recent comments indicate a shift in her rhetoric. “It’s misleading to suggest to anyone that if you’re violating immigration laws, that this is a place where you can violate immigration laws,” she said last month. She also told lawmakers that DC will “follow the law” when it comes to ICE detainers, a position that contradicts her previous hardline sanctuary city stance.
This comes at a time when DC is facing serious economic struggles, including the loss of federal jobs and surging crime. With public safety and the local economy now top concerns, Bowser appears to be backing away from leftist activism and instead focusing on more immediate city issues.
Despite the removal of the webpage, DC still has sanctuary policies in place that limit local law enforcement’s cooperation with ICE. However, Bowser’s recent actions suggest she may be less inclined to continue fighting federal enforcement efforts as the city deals with mounting crises.
This move follows her controversial decision to remove Black Lives Matter Plaza, another sign that her administration is quietly shifting away from previous positions that defined her leadership.
