PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Lehigh County Controller is calling for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be evicted from a county building for failure to pay rent for three years.
Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley said at a press conference on Tuesday in Allentown that ICE owed more than $115,000 in unpaid rent.
“We’re going to deport ICE,” Pinsley said. “It’s come to our attention that the Department of Homeland Security has been leasing office space in one of our government buildings for the last three years.”
Pinsley, a Democrat who is also seeking a seat in the U.S. House, has also called for the termination of all negotiations with Homeland Security and the eviction of federal immigration enforcement agencies from county property.
The controller said he has asked the county administration to notify Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
“You’re evicted, pack your masks, tear gas, pepper balls and hit the road,” said Pinsley. “I have also asked the administration to establish a database that allows citizens to report misdeeds of ICE.”
In a statement, Lehigh County Executive Josh Siegel said DHS’ failure to pay rent and its reputation of “recklessness, chaos, and public disorder” warrant severing the county’s ties with it.
KYW Newsradio reached out to ICE for comment, but has yet to hear back.