FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 1E
Government of the District of Columbia
2605 Sherman Ave NW, Washington DC 20001
Contact: Commissioner Brad Howard, ANC 1E Engagement Secretary
www.anc1e.org | 1E01@anc.dc.gov
WASHINGTON — At its June 25, 2025, public meeting, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1E unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the proposed repeal of sanctuary city protections included in the Mayor’s FY26 Budget Support Act.
The resolution calls on the D.C. Council to remove Section 3052 of the proposed legislation, which would authorize local agencies to comply with ICE detainer requests without a judicial warrant and allow federal immigration enforcement officials to interrogate detainees without a court order—undermining key provisions of the Sanctuary Values Amendment Act of 2019.
“Sanctuary policies keep our communities safe by ensuring all residents can access services, report crimes, and engage with local government without fear,” said Commissioner Brian Footer (1E07), Chair of ANC 1E. “This repeal not only threatens our values, but our autonomy as a self-governing city.”
The resolution points to federal court rulings—including decisions in City of Philadelphia v. Attorney General and County of Santa Clara v. Trump—which have affirmed that the federal government cannot lawfully withhold public safety grants from sanctuary jurisdictions without explicit congressional authorization.
ANC 1E’s resolution also emphasizes the impact such a policy reversal would have on Park View and surrounding neighborhoods, which are home to many immigrant and mixed-status families.
“This proposal sends the wrong message at the wrong time,” said Footer. “We call on the Council to remove this language from the final budget and reaffirm our commitment to being a welcoming city for all.”
Resolution Text:
#1E-2025-0605: Resolution Urging the D.C. Council to Remove the Repeal of Sanctuary City Laws from the FY26 Budget Proposal
WHEREAS, Washington, DC has a longstanding commitment to being a Sanctuary City—a commitment that reflects the District’s values of inclusion, dignity, and equal protection under the law for all residents, regardless of immigration status; and
WHEREAS, The Sanctuary Values Amendment Act of 2019 currently prohibits DC agencies, including the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and Department of Corrections (DOC), from cooperating with federal immigration authorities without a judicial warrant or order, and blocks ICE from interviewing detained individuals without a court order; and
WHEREAS, These policies have been critical in ensuring that immigrant residents in ANC 1E can safely access city services, report crimes, and engage with government agencies without fear of detention or deportation; and
WHEREAS, The Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Act (Sec. 3052) includes a provision to repeal Section 7 of the “Act To create a Department of Corrections in the District of Columbia” (D.C. Law 19-194; D.C. Official Code § 24-211.07), effectively dismantling the city’s sanctuary policies by authorizing DC agencies to comply with ICE detainer requests without warrants and allowing federal immigration authorities to interrogate detainees without due process protections; and
WHEREAS, The repeal is being justified in part by concerns over the loss of federal funds; however, multiple federal courts have ruled that the federal government cannot lawfully withhold public safety grants from sanctuary jurisdictions absent explicit Congressional authorization. These include:
City of Philadelphia v. Attorney General, 916 F.3d 276 (3d Cir. 2019),
City of Chicago v. Barr, 961 F.3d 882 (7th Cir. 2020), and
County of Santa Clara v. Trump, 275 F. Supp. 3d 1196 (N.D. Cal. 2017),
which collectively affirm that such actions by the Executive Branch violate the Spending Clause and the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution; and
WHEREAS, Extensive research and law enforcement professionals have affirmed that sanctuary city policies enhance public safety by fostering trust between local officials and immigrant communities—making residents more likely to report crimes, cooperate with investigations, and engage with services without fear; and
WHEREAS, ANC 1E is home to thousands of immigrants, multilingual families, and mixed-status households who rely on these protections for their safety and stability, and who are an integral part of the community’s schools, businesses, faith communities, and civic life; and
WHEREAS, The proposed repeal comes at a time when Congress is actively targeting DC’s home rule authority, and any effort to dismantle our Sanctuary City laws under external pressure threatens not only immigrant communities but also the District’s autonomy; therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That ANC 1E opposes the proposed repeal of Section 7 of “An Act To create a Department of Corrections in the District of Columbia” (D.C. Law 19-194; D.C. Official Code § 24-211.07), as included in the Mayor’s FY26 Budget Support Act;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That ANC 1E urges the DC Council to remove this provision from the final Budget Support Act and reaffirm the District’s commitment to being a Sanctuary City;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That ANC 1E commits to defending immigrant residents and opposing any local efforts that enable federal immigration enforcement to bypass due process and constitutional protections;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That ANC 1E calls on DC’s elected leaders to center community safety, constitutional rights, and the lived realities of DC’s immigrant communities in all public policy and budget decisions;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, ANC 1E designates Commissioner Brian Footer to represent the Commission in all matters relating to this Resolution. In the event the designated representative Commissioner cannot carry out their representative duties for any reason, ANC 1E authorizes the Chair to designate another Commissioner to represent the Commission in all matter relating to this Resolution.
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About ANC 1E:
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1E represents the neighborhoods of Pleasant Plains, Park View, and the Howard University area. Commissioners are elected to advise the District government on decisions that affect their neighborhoods, including public safety, transportation, planning, zoning, and city services. All ANC meetings are open to the public, and residents are encouraged to participate in shaping the future of their community.
About Advisory Neighborhood Commissions:
ANCs are nonpartisan, locally elected bodies in Washington, D.C. that represent neighborhood interests to the District government. While ANCs do not have legislative power, they are given “great weight” on decisions before city agencies and the Council. Commissioners serve two-year terms and are elected by single-member districts within each ward.
ANC 1E 