Hello Neighbors:

Residents are scared and angry about D.C. government coordination with federal law enforcement, especially around immigration enforcement – and the possible human rights violations that result from it.

My committee at the Council will give them a public forum to share their concerns next week. (See this story from Martin Austermuhle in The 51st about resident demands for accountability and my decision to hold the first hearing on this topic in the District.)

Yesterday I announced that the Committee on Public Works & Operations will hold a public roundtable October 29 to hear from residents and organizations about incidents they’ve witnessed since January that involve D.C. government coordination with federal entities or joint enforcement activity that may violate D.C. human rights laws.

The D.C. Human Rights Act protects against discriminatory or unlawful treatment of residents based on national origin, race, language, immigration status, homeless status or place of residence. The Committee has oversight responsibility for the D.C. Office of Human Rights, and we have requested its presence at the roundtable.

Testimony may include instances of government agencies sharing arrest or booking info – including immigration status – with federal agencies, conducting stops or detentions that disproportionately target people perceived as immigrants, disproportionate enforcement activities in residences and businesses in neighborhoods with larger immigrant populations, and encampment clearings.

While the Office of Human Rights does not have authority over federal agencies, it does handle cases involving private and public actors, including police and other District workers. Since the end of the Metropolitan Police Department’s forced 30-day collaboration with federal law enforcement, Mayor Bowser has said MPD is no longer cooperating with federal immigration officials, even while residents say that is not accurate.

The hearing will take place Wednesday, October 29, starting at 9:30 a.m. in Room 500 of the Wilson Building. I encourage you to register to testify and/or submit testimony.