ICE arrest at Plumstead park sparks concern, district reaffirms school safety policies

An early morning arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a Plumstead Township park on a recent Saturday has raised questions among local residents and prompted Central Bucks School District officials to reiterate their commitment to keeping schools safe and free from immigration enforcement activity.

According to Plumstead Township Police Chief David Mettin, ICE agents took an individual into custody on Saturday, July 12, at Joseph E. Hanusey III Park. The arrest occurred between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., Mettin said, and local police were not notified in advance.

Plumstead Township police only became aware of the operation after a resident reported the law enforcement presence. As of press time, ICE has not publicly identified the individual arrested or released the reason for the enforcement action.

A photo shared to social media by a resident of The Overlook at Carriage Hill — a neighborhood adjacent to the park— showed federal agents on the scene. 

According to the Bucks County Herald, the accompanying post expressed discomfort over the incident taking place in a public space frequented by families and children: “It’s unsettling to see this happening in our community and where children and families play."

Mettin noted that the department’s annual summer food drive for the Bucks County Housing Group was also taking place that morning, though the two events were unrelated and occurred at different times. 

“They had no impact on one another,” Mettin told the Herald.

Nearly a week after the arrest, Central Bucks School District issued a letter to families aimed at clarifying its policies regarding immigration enforcement on school grounds. 

In the message, Substitute Superintendent Dr. Charles Malone stated the district had reached out to ICE’s Philadelphia office for guidance on the agency’s protocols.

According to ICE’s response, enforcement actions are not carried out at “sensitive locations” such as schools, hospitals, or places of worship — except in rare, exigent circumstances or with prior approval from senior leadership. 

ICE emphasized that its current priorities focus on individuals who pose a threat to public safety or national security, and that “schools remain safe spaces for education, not immigration enforcement.”

Malone also reminded families of district-wide protocols adopted in January that address how staff should respond if ICE attempts to enter a school building. The procedures were developed in consultation with legal counsel and local police departments. They include the following key provisions:

• Any ICE presence on campus must immediately be reported to local law enforcement.
• Agents are not permitted to access classrooms or non-public areas without a judicial warrant signed by a state or federal judge.
• Only designated district personnel are permitted to interact with law enforcement officials.
• The district will prioritize student and staff safety while complying with applicable law.

“These procedures apply to all CBSD schools and facilities, during the school day and after-school events,” Malone wrote. “We will continue to remain vigilant in our efforts to provide a stable, inclusive, and safe environment for every member of our school community.”

The district did not say whether the individual arrested at the park had any connection to Central Bucks schools.