Washington, D.C., Police Chief Pamela Smith on Thursday issued an executive order that ends the city’s long-standing sanctuary policy and authorises Metropolitan Police Department officers to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The directive allows officers to share information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement about people they encounter during traffic stops or other interactions and to provide transport for ICE personnel and detainees. It preserves a restriction that bars arrests based solely on civil immigration warrants. The order follows President Donald Trump’s decision earlier this week to assume direct federal control of law-enforcement operations in the capital, citing what he called historic levels of violent crime. The administration has deployed about 800 National Guard troops and multiple federal agencies across the District. According to the White House, 45 people were arrested in coordinated operations on Wednesday night, 29 of whom were in the country unlawfully. Trump hailed Smith’s move as “a great step,” saying the city “will no longer be a sanctuary for illegal alien criminals.” District officials and some Democratic lawmakers counter that violent crime has fallen sharply this year and argue the federal intervention is unnecessary and legally questionable. The mayor’s office said it is reviewing legal options as the 30-day period for federal control begins.