The House of Representatives just dropped a bombshell on Washington, D.C., with a decisive vote to strip away its sanctuary city status, according to The Washington Examiner.
On Thursday, the House passed the District of Columbia Federal Immigration Compliance Act of 2025 by a margin of 234-194, a move aligning with President Donald Trump’s mission to restore safety and order to the nation’s capital.
This isn’t just a symbolic jab at progressive policies; it’s a mandate requiring D.C. to fully comply with federal immigration laws, including directives from the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The bill didn’t just squeak by—eleven Democrats crossed the aisle to support it alongside Republicans, signaling that even some on the left see the need for stronger federal alignment.
Let’s be real: for years, D.C. has played fast and loose with federal immigration authority, and this vote is a firm reminder that actions have consequences.
The legislation explicitly removes D.C.’s sanctuary jurisdiction status, putting an end to local laws that have long frustrated federal enforcement efforts.
This vote wasn’t a standalone act; it’s part of a broader push stemming from President Trump’s executive orders targeting the district, including the creation of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force to oversee compliance.
Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, the House also passed two related bills: one to protect the capital during emergencies, backed by 30 Democrats, and another barring noncitizens from voting in local elections, supported by an impressive 56 Democrats.
There’s a growing bipartisan consensus that D.C. needs to fall in line with national priorities, even if some still cling to outdated sanctuary ideals.
Now, the Federal Immigration Compliance Act heads to the Senate, where it faces a tougher battle—a 60-vote threshold to dodge a potential filibuster.
There’s buzz that some Democratic senators from swing states might break ranks and join Republicans, recognizing that voters back home aren’t keen on shielding policies that undermine federal law.
Rules Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) didn’t mince words, stating, “The D.C. City Council has a history of thumbing its nose at federal agencies.”
She’s not wrong—D.C.’s defiance has long been a thorn in the side of federal efforts to ensure national security, and her point about setting an example as the nation’s capital hits hard.
Meanwhile, a separate D.C. funding fix bill, which would reverse nearly a billion dollars in budget cuts, didn’t make it to a House vote this week, despite the Senate unanimously passing it earlier.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) assured everyone the House would act “as quickly as possible” on the funding issue, but with no timeline set, D.C. remains stuck with a stopgap budget from earlier this year until Congress sorts out the next appropriations round.