Abington Addresses ICE Policies

ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA — Officials are clarifying the township's stance on ICE policies in a recently released joint statement by its commissioners and police department.

The Abington Township Board of Commissioners and the Abington Township Police Department released a statement to clarify its position on immigration enforcement and the role of local law enforcement in relation to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"We emphasize that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility," the statement read. "Local police departments are not required to enforce these laws unless they have entered into a formal agreement to do so, and Abington Township has no such agreement. We remain focused on our core mission: serving and protecting all members of the Abington Township community."

No reason was given by officials there were any recent ICE incidents in the township to warrant such a clarification.

"It is important for all residents to understand the practices and policies we follow, as we are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone in our community, regardless of immigration status," officials said.

What We Do:

• The Abington Township Police Department serves all residents and works hard to maintain the public trust, without regard to immigration status.
• We enforce local and state laws that safeguard the public’s health, safety, and welfare.
• We investigate crimes and work diligently to protect victims and witnesses, irrespective of their immigration status.
• Our police officers follow the guidelines and best practices of modern policing as a dually accredited agency, accredited nationally by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (PLEAC).
• Additionally, our township employees and officials are guided by Abington Township’s employee handbook, human resource laws, and the highest ethical standards, and they receive regular training in these areas as part of their duty to our residents.
• We strictly adhere to all laws governing the sharing of personal identifying information with the public and other law enforcement agencies.

What We Do Not Do:

• We do not enforce federal immigration laws. Immigration enforcement is the responsibility of the federal government, not local police.
• We do not inquire about an individual’s immigration status during routine police activities or when they access any other Township services.
• We have not, and will not, enter into ICE’s 287(g) program, which empowers local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws.

The Abington Township Human Relations Commission applauded the "clear commitment" to protecting all township residents regardless of their immigration status and clarifying that local law enforcement does not enforce federal immigration laws or ask about immigration status during routine interactions.

"This is how trust, safety, and equity are built," the commission stated.

Anyone with questions about immigration status or who needs assistance with immigration-related matters should contact a qualified legal professional or the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center at 717-600-8099 or at www.PIRCLaw.org.