The pressure from Trump and a Congress aligned with his policies is reshaping the face of Washington DC, a city that once took pride in being a refuge for migrants regardless of their status. Now, the authorities of the District of Columbia have taken a step back, avoiding the label of a “sanctuary city,” a term that once symbolized resistance to cooperating with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in deporting undocumented individuals. The most visible proof of this shift is the removal of the official DC government webpage where Mayor Muriel Bowser had reaffirmed this commitment.
In that statement, published in November 2016 after Trump’s first electoral victory, Bowser firmly declared: “The values, laws, and policies of Washington DC did not change on Election Day. We celebrate our diversity and respect all DC residents regardless of their immigration status. We are a sanctuary city because we know our neighborhoods are safer and stronger when no one is afraid to seek help from the government.”
Even in 2019, in a message on Twitter (now X), the mayor insisted: “Washington DC remains a proud sanctuary city, committed to protecting the rights of our immigrant families against threats.” A year later, she succeeded in turning that commitment into law. However, the landscape has now shifted dramatically.
With Trump back in power, Bowser’s rhetoric has undergone a significant change. In a recent press conference, the mayor admitted that she no longer uses the term “sanctuary city” because, according to her, it is “misleading.” “It suggests telling someone that if they are violating immigration laws, this is a place where they can do so,” she explained, emphasizing that “you are always vulnerable to federal immigration laws.”
This shift seems driven by mounting pressure from the federal government. Trump has made clear his desire for greater control over the District of Columbia, and the Republican-majority Congress is debating a budget cut of one billion dollars for the city.
“The mayor is being strategic,” says Abel Núnez, president of CARECEN (Central American Resource Center). “It’s not about defying the administration but finding a way to collaborate without compromising essential services for the community.” Núnez warns that organizations working with migrants are already feeling the effects of these federal cuts. “They are not only attacking vulnerable communities and immigrants but also the organizations that serve them,” he asserts.
Language has also become a battleground. According to a New York Times investigation, the government has circulated a list of banned terms for public agencies, including “racism,” “Hispanic minority,” “social justice,” and “vulnerable populations.” “Sanctuary” now joins this linguistic blacklist.
Despite the tensions, several cities and states — such as California, New York, and Massachusetts — continue to resist, reaffirming their sanctuary policies. Democratic mayors from cities like Chicago, Denver, Boston, and New York recently defended these policies before Congress, denying Republican claims that they jeopardize public safety.
Trump’s frustration with the pace of deportations has fueled his attacks on sanctuary cities, threatening to cut their federal funds if they refuse to cooperate with ICE. The Department of Justice has already sued New York and Chicago for interfering with his anti-immigration campaign.
The dilemma for Washington DC is particularly complex. Unlike states, the District of Columbia lacks full representation in Congress: its delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton, has no voting rights. This vulnerability has sparked proposals like the one from Maryland Representative Jamie Raskin, who suggested that DC could rejoin Maryland to escape Republican control. However, the idea has been rejected by most Maryland residents and seems politically unfeasible.
Meanwhile, Bowser walks a tightrope, striving to balance her authority and the city’s budget. “The term ‘sanctuary’ is symbolic, but what truly matters is ensuring funds are there to support the community,” Núnez concludes. “At this moment, more than messages, we need concrete solutions.”
