U.S. attorney general Pam Bondi has lifted the restrictions placed on local police in Washington from aiding immigration enforcement, paving the way for President Donald Trump’s plan to take over the country’s capital city.

Ms Bondi’s decision came days after Mr Trump ordered the deployment of over 800 National Guard troops and other federal law enforcement agencies to Washington D.C and federalise the city’s police in an effort to fight crime.

“When you walk down the street, you’re going to see police or you’re going to see FBI agents,” Mr Trump said during a press briefing on Monday. “We’re going to have a lot of agents on the street. You’re going to have a lot of, essentially military. And we will bring in the military if it’s needed.”

In a two-page order on Thursday, Ms Bondi stamped the Trump administration’s move to federalise the Washington police, declaring Terry Cole, the head of the Drug Enforcement Agency as the new “emergency police commissioner”.

The police department, including Chief Pamela Smith, must now receive approval from Mr Cole before issuing any directives, the attorney general declared.

Meanwhile, opposition politicians have criticised Mr Trump’s takeover of Washington, calling it an operation targeted at immigrants, minorities and homeless people in the country’s capital.

Mr Trump’s border czar Tom Homan welcomed the latest developments, noting that Washington will no longer be a sanctuary city under federal control with police and immigration officials working together to arrest illegal immigrants.

“D.C. under federal control is not going to be a sanctuary city,” Mr Homansaid on Fox News. “We’re working with the police hand in hand: When we encounter a criminal illegal alien, they’ll be turned over to ICE, and that’s the way it should be.”