A Bucks County Court of Common Pleas Judge affirmed a collaboration agreement between the Bucks County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a ruling issued moments ago.
Judge Jeffrey G. Trauger ruled the Sheriff’s Office’s has the authority to participate in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) task force model.
The decision allows the Sheriff’s Office to move forward with the common-sense initiative, providing a targeted tool for identifying individuals taken into custody based on existing criminal charges and outstanding Bucks County warrants who are also in the country illegally, Sheriff Fred Harran said.
(You can read Judge Trauger’s decision in full by clicking here )
“Today’s court ruling is a victory for the law-abiding residents of Bucks County and a validation of a common-sense approach to public safety which fully leverages partnerships and resources to keep our communities safe. This decision affirms our ability to use this simple tool to ensure individuals who commit crimes in our county are held fully accountable – regardless of their immigration status. This partnership is a fiscally responsible force multiplier for our taxpayers as the specialized training for our deputies is provided at no cost to the county.”
Residents have pushed back, with dozens of people protesting against the agreement throughout the summer.
The 287(g) collaboration program, which has rapidly expanded nationwide since President Donald Trump took office in January, trains local law enforcement to carry out some immigration enforcement duties and allows them to assist ICE in its operations, according to officials.
Harran pointed to cost savings when it comes to “transferring individuals who are not in the country legally to federal custody.”
“…We avoid the local costs of incarceration,” he said.
The suit which was filed by the ACLU Community Justice Project on behalf of Make The Road Pennsylvania, NAACP Bucks County, the BuxMont Unitarian Universalists, and an impacted Bucks County resident alleges Sheriff Harran illegally entered into the 287(g) because he failed to consult with and get approval from Bucks County Commissioners, the majority of whom oppose the agreement. By entering into this agreement over the County Board of Commissioners’ objection, the Sheriff violated both the Pennsylvania Constitution and the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Cooperation Act.
ACLU officials have yet to release a statement on the ruling and whether or not they plan to appeal Judge Trauger’s decision in a higher court.
“I have the utmost confidence in our highly trained deputies to execute this narrow and specific function with the professionalism they demonstrate every day. I have said before and will say again: this program is a targeted public safety tool, not a license for general immigration enforcement. Today’s ruling is a definitive rejection of the misinformation that has served to confuse residents and hamper the critical mission of our law enforcement officers. Now that the court has affirmed our position, we can move past these distractions and continue our mission to protect the families of Bucks County,” said Harran.
Harran a Republican is seeking to be reelected to his second term as Sheriff in Novembers Municipal Election.
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