Washington, D.C., once a staunch defender of sanctuary city policies, appears to be reversing course under Mayor Muriel Bowser. The district government recently removed a webpage highlighting D.C.’s sanctuary city status, sparking speculation about a policy shift.
The now-deleted page previously featured Bowser’s declarations from 2016, when she pledged that D.C. would “double down” on its sanctuary status in defiance of the Trump administration. At the time, she allocated taxpayer funds to defend illegal immigrants from deportation, funding legal aid groups and advocacy organizations.
Mayor Bowser of DC, US Capital and sanctuary city: “We're not a border town. We don't have an infrastructure to handle this type of and level of immigration to our city … We're not Texas." pic.twitter.com/26lC1Zevm1
— Logan Ratick (@Logan_Ratick) September 17, 2022
In a notable change in tone, Bowser now avoids the term “sanctuary city,” calling it “misleading.” She recently stated, “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.” Her remarks indicate a shift from the aggressive opposition she once displayed toward federal immigration enforcement.
Mayor Bowser literally declared DC a sanctuary city, Karine. Bear the fruits of your labor https://t.co/TYqniNkkV3
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) July 29, 2022
The removal of the webpage follows growing pressure on Democratic mayors to address the consequences of their open-border policies. Unlike other leaders called before Congress to defend their sanctuary policies, Bowser has notably distanced herself from past rhetoric.
Despite D.C.’s sanctuary law, which limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities, Bowser’s statements suggest the city may not be as willing to obstruct deportations as before. She recently told lawmakers that the city government will “follow the law” when dealing with ICE detainment orders — another departure from her previous stance.
With D.C. facing economic turmoil and rising crime, Bowser’s shifting priorities suggest that even liberal strongholds may be rethinking their commitment to sanctuary city policies.
