NORRISTOWN, P.A. (KYW Newsradio) — After pressure from immigration advocates for cooperating with ICE, Montgomery County has a new policy that instructs county employees to not share any information on immigration status with ICE unless agents produce a judicial warrant or it’s required under law.
Neil Makhija, chair of the Montgomery County Commissioner, said the new policy brings clarity to the issue brought up by advocates.
“This ensures that we maintain our commitment to the rule of law, to due process, and protecting the privacy and dignity of every individual,” he said.
While most of the community members that spoke at the meeting backed having less cooperation with ICE, there was a question about if less cooperation at the county jail level made the county less safe. Makhija responded by taking a jab at the Trump administration.
“I do want to note that if you are concerned about crime, I would be concerned about the 1,200 criminals who were pardoned on the first day of this presidency, some of whom have gone on to commit further crimes,” he said.
The chair of commissioners also said the past criticism of the county for being too cooperative with ICE from advocates was misdirected. Instead, he directed criticism at U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican who voted for President Donald Trump’s recent budget proposal, which provides more funding to ICE to carry out detentions and deportations.
“That was approved by a member of Congress who represents part of Montgomery County,” said Makhija. “I don't know if any of the people in this room have gone to that member of Congress, but that's where you're going to make the most change.”
Makhija also said the county will not sign up for President Trump’s 287(g) program, which allows ICE to delegate immigration duty to state or local law enforcement. Bucks County signed up for the agreement that became official last month.
“Their attempt is to coerce localities into spending our funds to enforce their policy, and that's why we've been very clear that we are not deputizing our officials to enforce immigration,” he said.