Abington Township police, commissioners clarify role regarding ICE

Abington Township officials are seeking to clear up confusion about how local police interact with federal immigration authorities.

In a joint statement, the Abington Township Board of Commissioners and the Abington Township Police Department outlined their position on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stressing that immigration matters fall outside the scope of local law enforcement.

"We emphasize that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility," the statement noted. "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."

Township leaders added that transparency is central to building trust with residents. "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.

From the statement: 

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.