(Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com)
A debate is brewing over Bucks County Sheriff Fred Harran’s application to join a federal program that would empower some of his deputies to enforce federal immigration laws.
On Wednesday morning, approximately 150 concerned residents and representatives from various advocacy organizations gathered outside the Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown Borough to voice their opposition to the proposed 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The “task force model” of the 287(g) program, which Harran’s office has applied for, would grant select, trained sheriff’s deputies the authority to perform certain immigration enforcement functions, a power typically reserved for federal agents.
The press conference was organized by a coalition of groups including Immigrant Rights Action, NAACP Bucks County, Make the Road PA, CASA, and the ACLU of Pennsylvania.
“We are sending a loud and clear message to our Bucks County Sheriff Fred Harran, that we are not interested in having ICE in Bucks County,” declared a representative from Immigrant Rights Action, met with applause from the assembled crowd. “We ask that 287(g) be rescinded, and we ask that our sheriff deputies do not become ICE agents.”
Harran, a Republican currently seeking reelection, has stated his intention to utilize the 287(g) program to determine the immigration status of individuals already in the custody of his office and those for whom his office holds outstanding warrants. He has stated that his office will not engage in immigration raids or sweeps.
However, critics remain unconvinced and have argued that participation in the 287(g) program would divert resources away from the core responsibilities of the sheriff’s office. They also emphasized the potential for the agreement to sow fear and distrust within immigrant communities, ultimately making the county less safe for everyone by discouraging the reporting of crimes.
Heidi Roux, the executive director of Immigrant Rights Action, underscored that point.
“We support the sheriff’s effort to catch more criminals, and we believe that the only way to do that is if everyone that lives in Bucks County is comfortable reporting crimes,” she said. “This program will undermine that trust.”
Adrienne King, the president of the Bucks County NAACP, referenced a 2023 study conducted by her organization on local policing practices. The study revealed that Black and Brown individuals in Bucks County are disproportionately stopped by law enforcement compared to their white counterparts.
“This program opens the door of racial profiling and unjust detentions and the criminalization of immigrant families who already live in fear,” King stated. “It will tear communities apart, discourage victims and witnesses from cooperating with law enforcement, and ultimately make Bucks County less safe for everyone.”
Beyond the potential human cost, speakers highlighted the potential financial implications for Bucks County taxpayers.
Solomon F. Worlds, a staff attorney at the ACLU of Pennsylvania, pointed to numerous costly lawsuits that have arisen from similar 287(g) agreements in other jurisdictions.
“Signing on to a 287(g) agreement is signing on to more taxes, point blank,” Worlds said.
Andrea Lawton, a community activist and immigrant who has resided in the United States for 19 years, questioned the erosion of trust that the 287(g) program could cause.
“If we cannot trust the police, who are we going to trust?” she asked the crowd. “We don’t want to be afraid. We don’t want to feel intimidated. We want to feel safe.”
The coalition of advocacy groups collectively called on Harran to immediately rescind his office’s application for the 287(g) program.
Should the sheriff refuse to back out of the program, the protesters urged Bucks County Commissioners, state legislators, and residents to hold him accountable for the potential negative consequences.
Surrounded by deputies, Harran headed past the protest.“This is not just about immigration,” King told the crowd. “This is a civil rights issue. This is a racial justice issue. And we will not be silent.”
Amid the protest outside, Harran, who was flanked by at least six deputies, was escorted past the demonstration and across the street to the Bucks County Administration Building to attend the county commissioners’ public meeting.
Inside the meeting, the sheriff faced a barrage of concerns from residents who opposed the 287(g) program.
Residents cited worries about the risk of lawsuits and the potential financial burden on taxpayers. However, he also found support among some residents who celebrated the longtime lawman’s efforts.
“The sheriff made it abundantly clear that if a criminal is apprehended and found to be in this country illegally, they would be reported to ICE,” said Fran Haller, a resident who voiced her support for the partnership.
Another supporter argued that Harran’s office joining the federal program would solely target individuals who have broken the law.
“They’re looking at people who have committed crimes, and that’s what the sheriff is looking for,” she stated.
Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia, a Democrat, directly addressed the liability concerns raised by residents during the meeting.
“Just so everybody understands, we will have to cover the insurance for that. And we have a $500,000 deductible on any sheriff incident that happens,” she said.
Ellis-Marseglia also stated, “I’m a supporter of ICE. They have a job to do. They’re in their lane doing what they’re supposed to do. I also am a supporter of our sheriff. The sheriff’s job is important … We just want to support ICE to do ICE and sheriff to do sheriff.”
Commissioner Chairperson Bob Harvie, a Democrat, explained the county’s existing procedures for identifying undocumented immigrants within the justice system.
“People who are brought to the prison here in Bucks County are fingerprinted. They have their identities verified, and that information is entered into a database, which is a national database connected to law enforcement agencies across the country, including Immigration Customs Enforcement,” he explained. “That allows us to find out if someone has a warrant in another state, another county. It also lets us know if there is someone who is undocumented, and then ICE is actually notified at that point that the person is here. So that process is already in place and has been for a long time.”
While Harran has previously highlighted that the 287(g) program offers no-cost training to the county, Harvie clarified the details of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the sheriff’s office and ICE, which the county’s legal team has reviewed.
“It does allow for reimbursement for training of deputies, but nothing else, and it does not provide liability,” Harvie stated.
Following the meeting, Sheriff Harran issued a formal statement addressing the ongoing debate surrounding the 287(g) program.
“Since becoming your sheriff in 2022, I’ve worked to strengthen that collaboration by increasing staffing, expanding services, and ensuring our office is a visible, engaged partner in Bucks County’s broader public safety efforts. Our application to participate in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) ‘task force model”’ is a continuation of that work. It’s a common-sense, narrowly tailored tool to help us manage individuals who have committed crimes, are wanted in Bucks County, and are found to be in the country illegally,” the sheriff said.
“Under this program, a few specially trained deputies can access federal databases to verify immigration status. It is only for individuals already in custody based on criminal charges and outstanding Bucks County warrants. It is not, and will not be, used for immigration sweeps, random checks, or broad enforcement. Our policies explicitly prohibit such practices. This program also saves taxpayer money by shifting the cost of jailing and transport to the federal government and covering training costs through federal funding,” Harran added.
Harran also acknowledged the “misinformation” surrounding the issue and mentioned his office’s willingness to engage in dialogue with residents who have concerns.
Danny Ceisler, the Democratic candidate vying to unseat Harran in the November election, criticized the sheriff’s pursuit of the 287(g) agreement.
“Harran’s explanations for why he wants to do 287(g) just don’t make any sense. Our jail has cooperated with ICE for years, there’s just no reason to pull deputies off their beats or expose taxpayers to these costs,” said Ceisler.
