Delaware County 'Impeding' Immigration Enforcement, Trump Admin Says

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — Officials in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have included Delaware County on a national list of jurisdictions they say are deliberately obstructing the Trump administration's mass deportations of immigrants.

The list published this week lists more than 500 "sanctuary" counties and cities and even a few states, which federal officials say have refused to comply with federal law. Delaware County and many others, however, have long maintained their right to protect immigrants, and have accused the Trump administration's policies of violating civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

The Homeland Security list includes a statement describing the sanctuary jurisdictions' "deliberate and shameful obstruction" of the recent Trump executive order.

"Sanctuary cities protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril," the department said.

Delaware County and others will receive a "formal notification" of its violations, though it remains unclear how enforceable the demands are.

"DHS demands that these jurisdictions immediately review and revise their policies to align with federal immigration laws and renew their obligation to protect American citizens, not dangerous illegal aliens," the Homeland Security statement adds.

Anti-immigrant rhetoric, officials argue, is not based in fact, citing studies from the conservative-leaning Cato Institute that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes.

Eleven Pennsylvania counties made the new federal list: Adams, Allegheny, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Dauphin, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Montour, and Northampton.

Five Pennsylvania cities did as well: Gettysburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, State College, and York.