Rep. Deluzio Urges Pennsylvania Police to End ICE Cooperation Agreements
U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio is calling on local police departments across Pennsylvania to reject or rescind agreements, known as 287(g), that allow them to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A study from his office found a significant…
Harrisburg Lancaster Lebanon York, PA, November 11, 2026 —
U.S. Representative Chris Deluzio is urging local police departments throughout Pennsylvania to end their participation in a federal program that facilitates cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The program in question is known as 287(g), which allows state and local law enforcement agencies to enter into agreements with ICE to assume certain immigration enforcement responsibilities. Representative Deluzio, representing Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District in western Pennsylvania, has called on these departments to either reject new agreements or rescind existing ones.
This call to action follows a study conducted by Representative Deluzio’s office. The findings indicate that a substantial number of ICE detentions within his district have involved the participation of local law enforcement agencies operating under 287(g) agreements. According to the study, many individuals detained through these partnerships had no criminal records or pending charges at the time of their detention.
The 287(g) program allows designated state and local law enforcement officers to perform the functions of an immigration officer, operating under the supervision of ICE. These functions can include identifying, apprehending, and arresting individuals suspected of violating federal immigration law. The agreements are designed to enhance the federal government’s capacity to enforce immigration laws by leveraging the presence and resources of local law enforcement.
However, concerns have been raised by critics and some lawmakers regarding the impact of these agreements on community relations and the potential for overreach. Representative Deluzio’s office has highlighted that the study’s findings suggest that individuals with no existing criminal ties are being apprehended through these local enforcement efforts. The specific number of departments that have 287(g) agreements in Pennsylvania, the exact number of detentions involving local law enforcement, and the specific outcomes for individuals detained without criminal records were not detailed in the information provided.
Representative Deluzio’s office stated that the objective of their analysis was to examine the extent to which local law enforcement in his district is involved in immigration enforcement through the 287(g) program and the characteristics of those detained. The representative is advocating for a shift away from these partnerships, suggesting that they may not be the most effective or appropriate use of local police resources and could potentially strain relationships between law enforcement and immigrant communities.
Story summarized from the original created by Peter Hall, Pennsylvania Capital-Star on www.witf.org, see more information here.
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