Lackawanna County commissioners voted Wednesday to table a proposed administrative policy that would have set guidelines for how county employees interact with federal immigration agents. The decision followed nearly two hours of intense public testimony, during which a majority of residents urged the board to reject the current proposal in favor of the more stringent Protect Our Neighbors Act originally introduced by Commissioner Bill Gaughan.
The tabled policy was presented as an alternative to Gaughan’s ordinance, with Commissioner Thom Welby describing it as a way to provide clear protocols while avoiding potential legal conflicts with federal and state law. However, Gaughan and many community advocates criticized the new version as watered down, noting that it removed key protections such as prohibitions on voluntary cooperation with ICE and restrictions on the collection of immigration status information by county staff.
Critics argued that by focusing on internal guidance rather than a formal ordinance, the policy lacked enforceable boundaries and failed to adequately protect the constitutional rights of the immigrant community. After the lengthy public comment period, Gaughan made a motion to table the policy to allow time for strengthening the language, a move Welby ultimately seconded despite initial reservations. The commissioners are expected to re-examine both the policy and the original ordinance at a future meeting as they work to balance public safety, legal liability, and civil rights.
