Immigration advocates urge towns to restrict collaboration with ICE amid rising concerns over community impact.

In Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, immigration advocates are intensifying their appeals for local governments to adopt policies that would curtail cooperation between municipal police departments and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). As federal immigration enforcement becomes increasingly aggressive, particularly under the Trump administration, advocates argue that many municipalities have yet to take the necessary steps to safeguard vulnerable immigrant populations.

Despite ongoing advocacy efforts, only six out of the county’s 62 municipalities had implemented such policies by Wednesday. Even among those municipalities, which include Ambler, Springfield, West Norriton, Abington, Norristown, and Cheltenham, critics argue the measures are insufficient and primarily consist of internal policies that fail to offer meaningful protection to immigrants.

During a recent news conference held at Ascension Church in West Norriton, representatives from Montco Community Watch, a grassroots organization focused on monitoring ICE activities, voiced their concerns. They documented at least 97 detentions and identified 30 suspected instances of ICE detainment in Montgomery County, suggesting that the actual numbers could be even higher.

The urgency of the situation is underscored by the heightened visibility and activity of ICE in the Philadelphia area. Advocates assert that robust policies—often referred to as sanctuary policies—are crucial for ensuring that local law enforcement does not comply with ICE detainer requests without a judicial warrant. Such policies are designed to foster an environment where community members feel safe accessing local resources without fear of federal repercussions.

Advocates have been urging local leaders to create formal ordinances to limit collaboration with ICE. However, county officials have cited legal constraints on their power over local police departments as a primary reason for not enacting a county-wide welcoming resolution. Earlier this year, the county did adopt a policy restricting employee communication with ICE and stated it would not honor detainer requests lacking warrants. Nonetheless, advocates emphasize that such internal guidelines lack the transparency and accountability of formal ordinances.

The situation has led to confusion and anxiety within the community. Advocates have stressed the necessity for clearer boundaries between local policies and federal immigration enforcement to foster a sense of security among residents. They argue that without structured and enforceable policies, apprehensions and misinformation about the risks of engaging with local government resources will persist.

As calls for comprehensive reforms gain traction, the actions taken by local governments in Montgomery County could serve as an important case study in the ongoing national dialogue surrounding immigration enforcement and community safety.