Lackawanna County commissioners are set to review a new legislative proposal that would formally prohibit county agencies and employees from assisting with federal immigration enforcement. Known as the Protect Our Neighbors Act, the ordinance was introduced by Democratic Commissioner Bill Gaughan following a wave of public commentary from residents, faith leaders, and immigrant-rights advocates. The proposal explicitly states that federal immigration law is not the responsibility of local government and seeks to draw a clear legal boundary between county operations and federal agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.
If passed, the ordinance would prevent county agents from granting federal immigration authorities access to individuals in county custody without a valid and properly issued judicial warrant. Furthermore, the act would prohibit the transfer of any person to federal immigration custody and prevent the sharing of non-public personal information for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement. Gaughan, who has been vocal in his criticism of recent federal immigration crackdowns on moral grounds, framed the legislation as a necessary step to restore trust between local government and the community while ensuring that county resources are not diverted to perform federal duties.
The introduction of the act comes amid heightened tensions in the region following the recent federal acquisition of a large warehouse in neighboring Schuylkill County for use as an immigration processing center. Supporters of the ordinance argued during a public meeting on Wednesday that such measures are vital for public safety, as they encourage immigrant communities to interact with local police and health services without fear of deportation. The commissioners are expected to move forward with a formal review of the language before bringing the ordinance to a final vote.
