D.C. Council member Janeese Lewis George, the Democratic mayoral nominee, said ending police cooperation with federal immigration agents would be one of her first acts in office.
Lewis George laid out the pledge in an interview with WJLA published Oct. 26. She said severing ties between the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would rebuild trust and improve public safety.
"First and foremost of ending cooperation between MPD and ICE so we can rebuild the trust that's necessary and have the safety that this city needs in a very real way," she said.
The pledge is only half the picture. Lewis George also confirmed her campaign team and the Trump administration have already been in contact, and she called working with the federal government "an essential." She said she would cooperate with the White House on issues that benefit D.C. residents while standing up for them when necessary.
The dual stance outlines how Lewis George plans to navigate the District's relationship with the federal government. She criticized President Donald Trump's threats of greater federal control over D.C. during the Democratic primary but has said she is willing to work with the administration, according to WJLA.
Federal dollars
Lewis George also took aim at how the District handles federal funding. She said D.C. has failed to fully use available money, pointing to what she described as $30 million returned to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). She argued the District needs to make better use of those resources to meet its housing goals. The $30 million figure is Lewis George's claim; no independent confirmation of the amount or circumstances appeared in public records reviewed for this article.
Policing
Lewis George addressed her earlier support for defunding police. She said she does not view her current position as a shift, arguing that investing in communities and maintaining a strong police force are both necessary. A former prosecutor, she said officers are overwhelmed and proposed shifting some duties to other agencies, including mental health calls and traffic enforcement. She also wants to improve recruitment and retention by addressing working conditions, mental health support and the District's high cost of living.
The Nov. 3 ballot
The election is one week away. Lewis George won the Democratic mayoral primary in June. She faces Rhonda Hamilton, running as an independent, and Robert L. Gross of the D.C. Statehood Green Party. The D.C. Board of Elections lists no Republican candidate for mayor and 12 registered write-in candidates.
If elected, Lewis George would take office in January.
