The commissioners of Bucks insisted on Wednesday that they, not a sheriff, have exclusive power to conclude an agreement with ICE, warning employees of the county that they could be responsible for facilitate in enforcing federal immigration regulations.
The commissioners voted 2-1, together with a lonely republican, to approve the resolution appreciating their authority and declaring that the conclusion of a controversial cooperation agreement with ICE “is not the right use of the resources of taxpayers of Bucks.”
In the legal struggle in the case, she provoked high tension in Bucks, and Sheriff Fred Harran agreed that local deputies would perform immigration duties and the enforcement of customs law under the program “287 (G)”.
Hundreds of law enforcement agencies throughout the country joined the program, named after part of the immigration law of 1996.
Now Pennsylvania Aclu was threatened to sue, the sheriff obtained outside the legal representation, and the lonely republican commissioner, Gene Digiralmo, said that the case seemed certain before the judge.
Harran, who participated in the Wednesday meeting, said that the rolling disputes forced him to refuse to comment on the resolution. “Commissioners finally found a way to silence,” he joked.
The sheriff arose questions to the lawyer Wally Zimolong, who The site describes it as “GO-to” lawyer in Pennsylvania because of conservative causes. “
On Wednesday, Zimolong called a resolution of commissioners “legally unfounded”.
“This is a matter of federal law, not state law, and in accordance with federal law, the Bucks Sheriff Office is a political division. As such, Sheriff Harran had full rights under federal law for the purpose of performing a contract 287 (G) with ICE.”
All legal challenge will only be confirmed by the legitimacy of Harran’s actions, said lawyer Wayne.
Harran, a republican looking for re -election, has been consistently conflicting with the commissioners controlled by the Democratic Council in recent months. Bucks was the only unit in the Philadelphia region, in which the majority voted for President Donald Trump last year.
Harran continues his plans. He emphasizes that the Alliance of the ICE Department would not be used “for immigration sweeping, random controls or broad enforcement”, but “those who commit crimes must encounter consequences regardless of immigration status.”
His claim that the partnership would make the inhabitants of the county be safer, was loudly questioned, recently on Wednesday by some residents who spoke in opposition.
Now ACLU threatened to undertake legal proceedings To stop the ice alliance and warned in a letter to the sheriff that “Bucks Taxpayers would be on the hook of disputes and all responsibility on the hook.”
The Civil Rights Group said that the Sheriff Department has no rights in accordance with Pennsylvania’s law to unilaterally conclude an agreement with ICE and that only commissioners can do it. Aclran asked Harran to inform ICE about the approval of the absence of commissioners: “Your conclusion is legally invalid and invalid.”
The resolution defines the reasoning, research and intentions of the commissioners, but no one is binding. However, it can make the government of the Ferrrum less, if ACLU or others filed a lawsuit, which indicates that the majority of the board has opposed the plan.
Digirolamo spoke in defense of Harran, saying that they have known each other for decades and that the sheriff always tries to make the community safer.
“As for public security and law enforcement agencies, I could continue to talk about Fredie,” said Digiralmo.
The loud voice shouted the audience: “You are full of s …!”
The resolution noted that ICE is not obliged to pay for legal defense if the unit is sued for immigration actions taken by MPs.
In particular, he warned that all actions taken by the sheriff, his deputies or other employees of the county below 287 (G) were not approved. Employees of the county who act in accordance with 287 (G) do it as natural persons, gave a resolution and may lose their qualified immunity, which normally protects employees who act on the official character.
For example, for police officers, this immunity generally protects them from responsibility for their official actions.
The resolution additionally warned that employees performing “unauthorized work” for ICE may have to return the county.
“Only commissioners have the right to conclude a contract,” said the President of the Board of Bob Harvie Jr. After the meeting. “He signed the contract.
Most of those who turned to the commissioners on Wednesday were against cooperation with ICE, although people in favor were also present.
Edward Mackhouse was torn by the District Prosecutor in Philadelphia, Larry Krasner, told the commissioners that the Secretary for Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Skeptic of the vaccine, worked on that people were healthier, and insisted that Trump’s immigration policy would get rid of criminals and murderers.
“President Trump is the best and greatest president in America,” he said, attracting Boos and laughter.
“Get help,” someone shouted at him.
Sharon Furlong from Lower Southampton Township said that she is worried that ICE cooperation is more pressure and charged to overloaded police officers, while others questioned the potential costs of legal liability due to the facilitate of a federal agency.
At the beginning of this month, Commissioner Diane Ellis-Molsglia said that she had supported both law enforcement agencies, but: “We want ICE to perform Ice and Sheriff to make a sheriff.”
Sheriff Department would be the first in the Philadelphia region to work with ICE. This would do it because Trump is trying to realize what he claims will be the greatest deportation effort in the history of America, in which he called for state assistance and local law enforcement agencies.
From this week, ICE has signed 588 contracts with the police in 40 states. Agency officials could not be contacted immediately on Wednesday.
